20 Best HR Team Building Activities for a Happier Team

HR teams are often the backbone of workplace culture, managing people, resolving conflicts, and keeping employees engaged. But just like every other team, HR professionals also need moments to recharge, bond, and have fun together. HR team building activities not only strengthen collaboration but also give them a well-deserved break from their daily responsibilities. These activities make them feel valued and appreciated for the work they do.

So if you’re looking for ideas to bond your HR team, check out this list of 20 best HR team building activities that everyone will actually enjoy.

In this article, we’ll explore:

Benefits of hosting HR team building activities
Fun Games
Creative Activities
Icebreaker Activities
Wellness Activities
Skill Development Activities

Table of Contents

Why Host HR Team Building Activities?

From birthday celebrations to team-building activities, HR teams often plan everything for us. Hosting HR team building activities is a great way to appreciate their efforts and help them bond in a relaxed, low-pressure setting. Here are a few reasons why you should host HR team building activities:

Reduce burnout: HR professionals handle multiple tasks like hiring and onboarding, which can lead to workplace stress. Hosting engaging team-building activities can help them unwind and boost morale.

Builds trust across HR divisions: From talent acquisition to payroll, each vertical might work independently, which can lead to gaps in teamwork and communication. Team building activities can bring everyone together and help them bond over shared experiences.

Enhances essential workplace skills: HR team building activities can improve collaboration, communication, and problem-solving skills. They can also improve conflict resolution skills as team members work through challenges together in a low-stakes setting.

Supports continuous learning: Skill-based activities or workshops can help team members upskill themselves while enjoying shared learning experiences. They can also promote peer-to-peer learning and promote a growth mindset across the team.

Looking to Energize Your HR Team? Join Our Exciting HR Team Building Activities

What are the Best HR Team Building Activities?

The best HR team building activities are those that promote collaboration, reduce stress, and help HR teams bond in a fun way. From creative workshops and problem-solving games to wellness challenges and cultural celebrations, these activities give HR professionals a much-needed break while building stronger connections.

To help you host a fun event for your team, we have curated a list of 20 amazing activities for HRs. Whether your team is remote or in-person, these options work well for all.

Fun Games

Engaging in fun games is a great way to improve teamwork within your HR team through friendly competition in a lively setting. Here are top team-building games HR teams will absolutely love. Our team favourite tops this list.

1. Office Trivia

Trivia is an engaging way for HR teams to have fun and improve learning in an interactive setting. You can create questions on company policies, workplace culture, employment laws, or DEI. For a more light-hearted experience, you can tailor the topics to pop culture, travel, food, sports, and more.

A few weeks ago, we tried a hosted trivia event by Hooray Teams, where we enjoyed an interesting round called ‘Policy or Parody.’ Our team had an amazing time guessing which HR policies were real and which were fake.

Pro-tip: Give shoutouts or provide small rewards like gift cards, certificates, or badges to encourage active participation.

2. Scavenger Hunt

A scavenger hunt can be a lighthearted activity for your HR team to get away from their desks. Team members will receive a scavenger hunt list with different items like paper clips, coffee mugs, company merch, ID cards, and more. They just need to look for these items in their immediate surroundings within a set time to score a win.

Pro-tip: Prepare a list of diverse tasks and challenge teams to take photos, find something online, or decode riddles to keep things engaging throughout.

Here’s a sample scavenger hunt card for teams:

3. The Alchemist Escape Room

If you’re looking for thrilling HR team-building activities to engage your team, opt for The Alchemist escape room. Your team will be ‘locked’ in a library-themed room where they need to locate the philosopher’s stone before the alchemists enter the scene.

They need to collaborate, solve puzzles, and find hidden clues to complete the task and escape the room before time runs out. This activity encourages teams to work together under time pressure and communicate effectively to score a win.

Pro-tip: Divide the tasks based on individual strengths to avoid duplicating efforts and escape the room faster.

4. Role Reversal Roulette

Role reversal roulette is a more impromptu-based learning activity that gets teams to recreate various hiring and onboarding scenarios. One member from each team will be given roles like a new hire or an interviewee, and they need to act accordingly. The other members can be the HRs taking interviews or onboarding them based on the given situation.

This game can reveal how their coworkers approach different problems and share some laughs at relatable situations. It also helps HRs review the candidate’s perspectives and tailor their hiring styles accordingly.

Pro-tip: Use real-life examples from past interviews for a more insightful experience.

Creative Activities

Creative HR team building activities can help HRs experiment with different ideas and share conversations while enjoying fun hands-on experiences. Here are a few activities you can enjoy with your team.

5. Cookie Decorating

A creative, hands-on activity like cookie decorating is a unique way for HR teams to connect and unwind. Your team can decorate a batch of plain pre-baked cookies with various designs like emojis, HR lingo, office supplies, hearts, and more.

For convenience, you can send custom cookie decorating kits to participants’ doorsteps or share a list of ingredients so they can source them locally. You can also opt for a hosted session with any team-building platform to enjoy an expert-led experience.

Pro-tip: Create an online poll to vote for the best cookie designs and award creative titles to the winners.

6. Craft Workshops

Craft sessions are perfect for HR teams to create something meaningful while enjoying shared experiences. You can either hire a host to guide the group or source pre-recorded videos to follow along during the session. For a seamless experience, you can deliver custom craft kits or share a list of supplies so team members can source everything in advance.

Here are a few craft activity ideas for your team:

DIY Desk Decor: Create custom nameplates, pen holders, or terrariums for a vibrant desk makeover.

Origami: Fold vibrant origami sheets into different paper crafts like flowers, cranes, stars, hearts, and more.

Fridge Magnets: Craft fridge magnets with HR lingo or other relatable designs to highlight your team’s personality.

7. Cocktail Hour

Bring your HR team together for a relaxed cocktail hour where they can unwind, connect, and enjoy their favorite drinks. You can either reserve spots for a guided class or refer to online cocktail tutorials for a self-hosted experience. Your team can create some delicious drinks like whiskey sour, martini, Daiquiri, or experiment with different flavors to create custom cocktails. To make things convenient, ship mixology kits to participants or share a list of required ingredients so everyone can be prepared for the session.

Here are a few more ideas to elevate the fun:

Challenge everyone to come up with HR-themed drink names.
Host a few rounds of pub trivia on themes like cocktails around the world.
Run a cocktail garnishing competition and award prizes to the most creative entries.

Pro-tip: Offer mocktail options for the team members who avoid alcohol so everyone can join the fun.

8. Cooking Classes

Cooking classes are perfect for teams looking to enjoy hands-on culinary experiences as part of HR team building activities. Team members can choose from different cuisines like Italian, Mexican, or Asian to prepare during the session. They can also share their favorite recipes, cooking tips, or talk about food alternatives for an interactive experience. You can either send pre-portioned cooking kits to the participants or share a list of ingredients in advance.

Here are a few guided sessions for teams looking for a hosted experience:

Icebreaker Activities

Icebreaker activities can help team members from different verticals of the HR team connect and share conversations in a social setting. Here are a few HR team building activities that work perfectly as icebreakers.

9. Watercooler Social

Watercooler social is an amazing icebreaker activity where teams get to enjoy guided conversations. Team members will be given a random prompt, and they need to initiate conversations about it. You can either have a host moderate the session or write prompts, put them in a bowl, and pick random ones during each round.

Here are a few sample prompts to help you get started:

What’s your go-to stress buster during a hectic work day?
What’s your must-have HR tool or software?
What’s your favorite way to start the day before work?
What would you do if you had a month-long sabbatical?
What’s your favorite workplace celebration or tradition?

Pro-tip: Include trending and relatable prompts to ensure active conversations during the event.

10. Workplace Bingo

Looking for fun and engaging HR team building activities? Workplace bingo can be perfect for your team. You and your team will receive digital bingo cards from a designated host with prompts related to office moments, inside jokes, and more. Team members need to listen to the prompts as called out by the host and mark them off their cards to create a winning combination.

Pro-tip: Use themed rounds like HR lingo or remote work moments to keep things fun and relatable.

Here’s a workplace bingo card for your team:

11. HR Policy Pictionary

Play a fun version of Pictionary with your team by adding a corporate twist. Instead of usual prompts, you and your team will play the game with catchy words and phrases from the HR policy. One member from each group will receive a prompt, and they need to draw the same for the others to guess within a set time.

Here are some sample prompts to help you get started:

Open-Door Policy
Probation Period
Code of Conduct
Annual Performance Review
Leave Calendar

Pro-tip: Pair team members from different verticals together to encourage interaction and bonding.

12. Would You Rather: Hiring Edition

Would you rather can be a fun icebreaker for HR teams to share and discuss their opinions on relatable topics. Team members will receive situational prompts with two options related to various hiring scenarios. They just need to select the option they prefer and share their reasons for choosing it. This can lead to fun conversations during each round and give everyone a chance to connect on a personal level.

Here are a few would you rather prompts for your team to explore:

Would you rather hire for perfect skills and a poor attitude, or average skills and a great attitude?
Would you rather conduct five back-to-back interviews in one day, or spread them out over a week?
Would you rather recruit for the same role 10 times in a year, or recruit for 10 different roles all at once?
Would you rather use only LinkedIn for sourcing or rely only on employee referrals?
Would you rather interview a candidate who asks too many questions, or one who asks none at all?

Pro-tip: Set a time limit for each round to ensure fast-paced gameplay and keep everyone engaged throughout the event.

Wellness Activities

Wellness-themed HR team building activities can give teams the chance to unwind and take a mindful break from work. Here are a few wellness activity ideas that can be perfect for your team.

13. Chair Yoga

Chair Yoga can be a perfect wellness activity for your HR team to stretch and relax after a hectic workday. You can hire an instructor to guide your team through the session or reserve slots for a hosted class. Team members can learn different seated yoga poses, breathing exercises, and mindfulness techniques for a relaxing experience. Beyond the physical benefits, practicing chair yoga together can make wellness a common goal and bond everyone over shared experiences.

Here are a few tips to elevate your experience:

Use a sturdy armless chair for the event.
Block out your calendars and keep the devices aside to minimize distractions.
Keep the sessions short so everyone can enjoy them without feeling overwhelmed.

Pro-tip: Play calming music in the background to enhance focus and set a relaxing tone for the event.

14. Meditation

For teams seeking HR team building activities to reduce stress, a meditation session can be a perfect fit. You and your team can join a hosted class to learn how to meditate from an expert. Along the way, you can also learn how to achieve mindfulness using breathing and visualization techniques.

Here are a few tips to make the session more engaging:

Include gentle stretches before the session to help everyone sit comfortably.
Incorporate themes like gratitude and compassion for a meaningful experience.
Pick a time, like post-lunch or early evening, to ensure everyone can join the event.

Pro-tip: Send a reminder before the session, so team members can wrap up their tasks accordingly.

15. Doodling

A doodling session is a perfect way for HR teams to take a creative break and relieve stress in a low-pressure setting. You can create a list of thoughtful prompts and share them with team members during each round. They just need to explore the prompt and sketch something inspired by it.

Here are a few sample prompts for your team to explore:

A cozy corner you would like to nap in.
Your comfort food.
Your perfect quiet morning.
A page filled with your favorite shapes.
Something you loved doing as a kid.

Pro-tip: Opt for a hosted Zen Doodle Jam class for a more interactive and engaging team-building experience.

16. Fitness Challenges

Fitness challenges are a great way for HR teams to stay active despite their hectic schedules. These can include daily step counts, quick workouts, stair climbing contests, cycling to work, plank challenges, and more. You can select any task you like based on your team’s experience and skill levels.

Here are some tips to host these challenges:

Introduce a leaderboard for some friendly competition.
Offer small rewards like wellness products or badges to motivate everyone.
Start with low-effort challenges to encourage maximum participation.
Allow flexible options to accommodate all fitness levels.

Pro-tip: Allocate recovery days for everyone to rest and prevent burnout.

Skill-development Activities

If you want to help your team members upskill in a fun and engaging way, skill-based activities can be perfect for them. Here are a few activity options for your team.

17. Time Management Workshops

Time management workshops can help teams manage their time better and complete their to-do lists more effectively. These sessions can help teams learn how to prioritize tasks and set clear goals for the day to prevent burnout.

Plus, these sessions can help your team reclaim wasted hours and achieve a positive work-life balance. You can opt for any expert-led session or hire a professional to guide your team.

Pro-tip: Start the session with a time audit to find out how your team members currently spend their time to tailor the event accordingly.

18. Language Learning Sessions

Language learning sessions can help HR teams during global hiring and onboarding to communicate with international candidates efficiently. You can host these sessions to learn the basics of languages like Spanish, Italian, or French based on your team’s preferences.

Team members can use apps like Duolingo or learn from an expert instructor. They just need to spend 30 to 60 minutes a day learning key phrases and expressions that support meaningful conversations.

Pro-tip: Host fun quizzes or role-playing exercises to track progress and keep everyone motivated and engaged.

19. Leadership Training Workshops

Leadership training workshops are great for HR teams to improve their decision-making and strategic thinking skills. These sessions also help them plan their policies in a way that supports a positive work culture.

Along the way, they can also explore topics like risk management and conflict resolution, which can help them make informed decisions. You can invite someone from the leadership team or a senior human resource professional to lead the discussion and guide everyone.

Pro-tip: Personalize the sessions with real-life case studies to make the workshop more practical and relevant.

20. Soft Skills Learning Workshop

Soft skills learning workshops can help HR teams build interpersonal skills such as empathy, adaptability, and conflict resolution. Through these sessions, team members can learn about emotional intelligence, active listening, and effective communication to create a supportive team culture.

Team members can also analyze case studies, participate in role-playing exercises, and learn strategies to apply these skills in everyday interactions. To host the event, you can either hire an expert or opt for a peer-learning experience co-hosted by team members.

Pro-tip: Allot time for a short Q&A session so team members can clarify their doubts and share their experiences.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What types of team building activities for HR professionals actually work?

A mix of fun, creative, skill-based, and wellness activities is effective for team building activities for HR managers.

What are some good virtual HR activities for team building?

Trivia, Coworker Feud, scavenger hunt, and culinary decorating are some good virtual HR team building activities.

How to host team building activities for HR department virtually?

To host HR team building activities virtually, select an online video conferencing platform like Zoom or Microsoft Teams. Create a list of activities like trivia, chair yoga, and water cooler social to engage your team. Send out meeting invites with all the necessary details so everyone can join the session. Alternatively, opt for virtual team building platforms to enjoy a fully hosted experience.

What if some team members do not enjoy games or icebreakers?

No problem, there are many hands-on experiences like culinary decorating, craft sessions, and cooking events to engage team members who don’t enjoy games or icebreakers.

Should HR Team building be mandatory?

Yes! HR team building activities improve essential workplace skills and bond everyone through fun experiences. This can help them work together more effectively and set the tone for a more positive workplace culture.

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