12 Out-Of-The-Box Ideas to Improve Employee Experience
Did you know that the average company experiences an 18% turnover in its workforce? To avoid losing human capital, businesses should focus on creating a positive work environment and providing their employees with the tools they need to succeed.
While raises and typical “employee of the month” awards are great, thinking outside of the box is essential to company culture and employee overall experience and satisfaction.
If you’re looking to improve employee experience, you’ve come to the right place. We know that happy employees are the key to a successful company, so we’ve compiled a list of out-of-the-box ideas that will help you take your employee experience to the next level!
- “A day in the life of…” experience
- Get everyone moving with a company-wide fitness challenge
- Surprise employees with a personal collaborative video using Videotape
- Bring in some four-legged friends
- Set up a company-wide scavenger hunt
- Give employees the opportunity to share their talents
- Give employees an extra day off… to volunteer!
- Offer a hybrid working environment
- Implement a “dress for your day” policy
- Provide employees with access to wellness programs
- Give recognition and rewards
- Give free food and drinks in the office
1. 'A day in the life of....' experience
This is one that we really love! It gives employees the opportunity to experience what it is like to do a different job within the company. How to do it? Let everyone who’s interested sign up for a day, and then let them choose which department they would like to try out.Â
Imagine this: your customer service representative spends a day in the warehouse, your accountant tries their hand at sales, and your CEO learns what it is like to work on the front line. It’ll be a fun day for all, and employees will go home with a new perspective on the company!
2. Get everyone moving with a company-wide fitness challenge

Get those endorphins flowing! A fitness challenge is not only a way to get everyone moving and improve their overall health, but it will also promote a sense of camaraderie and competition among employees.
First, you’ll need to come up with a way to track progress and measure success. This could be as simple as setting up a leaderboard in the break room or office or creating an online tracker that employees can log into. You’ll also need to make sure there are prizes for the winners, which could be anything from gift cards to days off work.
3. Surprise employees with a personal collaborative video using Videotape

A great way to create stronger bonds between management and employees is to surprise the latter with a personal collaborative video. It allows the managerial team to show their employees that they care about them and appreciate their hard work.
Get your management team (either company-wide or just a single department) together and have them each record a short video message for each employee in your team, with the help of Videotape. These videos can be funny, serious, or anything in between. The important thing is that they are personal and come from the heart.
4. Bring in some four-legged friends

There are a lot of out-of-the-box ideas that can improve employee experience, but one that always seems to put a smile on people’s faces is the option to bring their pets to work. Pets provide us with companionship, stress relief, and unconditional love, so it only makes sense that they would make our work lives better too.
But be careful: productivity may take a bit of a hit that day as everyone spends time playing with the cute animals. ;-)
5. Set up a company-wide scavenger hunt
Scavenger hunts are not just for kids – in fact, they are a fun way to promote team building and can be used as a tool to onboard new employees. What’s more, they’re relatively easy to set up and can be tailored to fit any budget.
First, you’ll need to come up with a list of clues that will lead employees to different locations around the office. For example, you can hide objects that are related to the company’s history or products. Once you have your list of clues, it’s time to start hiding them! Be sure to place them in strategic locations that will challenge employees but won’t be too difficult to find.
Once all the clues have been placed, it’s time to let the scavenger hunt begin! Make sure everyone knows what the prize is for whoever finds all the clues first.Â
6. Give employees the opportunity to share their talents
We all have talents that we don’t get to use very often. But what if there was a place where we could share them with our colleagues?
This could be in the form of a company-wide talent show or simply allowing employees to showcase their skills during team meetings. For instance, you could have a monthly meeting where John from HR teaches the group how to make a perfect pot of coffee, or how to master a new yoga pose. The possibilities are endless!
Remember, it’s important to create a work environment that is fun and enjoyable.
7. Give employees an extra day off... to volunteer!
Giving back is a great way to improve employee morale and show them that you care about more than just profits. It’s also a great way to build team spirit and get employees working together for a good cause.
How to do it? Choose a day when employees can take time off to volunteer at a local charity or non-profit organization. Not only will they feel appreciated for their work, but they’ll also have the opportunity to give back to the community or explore their interests outside of work. This can help them feel more well-rounded and fulfilled, which will only make them more productive and engaged at work.
8. Offer a hybrid working environment
In these post-Covid times, you can’t get around it: hybrid working is here to stay. We all need a sense of balance between our personal and professional lives, so why not give employees the option to decide their own working hours? A hybrid schedule allows them to work both remotely and in-office, depending on their needs.
This will help your employees feel more comfortable and empowered, as they can decide what works best for them. Furthermore, it can help reduce stress levels and increase productivity, as employees have more freedom to work when they feel most productive.Â
9. Implement a 'dress for your day' policy
If you’re like most employers, you probably have a dress code that dictates what employees can wear to work. But what if you took a different approach and allowed employees to dress for their day? If you’re looking for a way to improve employee experience, why not try implementing a “dress for your day” policy?Â
This means that employees can dress according to the type of work they’ll be doing that day. For example, if they’re going to be in meetings all day, they can dress more formally. If they’re going to be working on a project that requires them to be up and moving around, they can dress more casually.
10. Provide employees with access to wellness programs
Wellness programs can help employees reduce stress, improve their overall health and well-being, and increase productivity.
There are a variety of ways to implement wellness programs in your workplace. One option is to offer employees discounts on gym memberships or fitness classes. You could also host on-site yoga or meditation classes, or bring in speakers to talk about topics like nutrition and healthy lifestyle choices.
Another great way to improve employee experience is to offer flexible work options. This could include things like flexible start and end times, or even condensed work weeks. By giving employees more control over their work-life balance, you can help them feel less stressed and more engaged in their work.
11. Give recognition and rewards

Giving recognition to employees is one of the most important things a company can do to improve the employee experience. Awards are a great way to show employees that their hard work is appreciated. They also give employees something to strive for and can be a great motivator.
One way is to have a system where employees can earn points for completing tasks or goals. These points can then be redeemed for prizes or awards. Another way is to give awards at company-wide events, such as an annual company party or holiday party. This is a great way to show all employees that they are appreciated.
12. Give free food and drinks in the office
Think about it – when was the last time you had a really bad day at work? Chances are, it was when you were hungry and there wasn’t any food around. Or maybe you were thirsty and there wasn’t any water or coffee left. And honestly, who doesn’t love free food and drinks? Offering free snacks and beverages is a simple way to show your employees that you care about their well-being and want them to be happy at work. Plus, it’s a great way to boost morale and keep everyone energized throughout the day.
A study by Harvard Business School found that employees who are given free meals are more likely to stay focused and engaged with their work. So if you want your team to be productive, make sure they’re well-fed!
Final Thoughts: Improve Employee Experience
While some of these policies may seem outrageous, they are actually quite common in the most successful companies. For example, Google is well-known for their pet-friendly policy, which allows employees to bring their dogs to work. This perk not only makes employees happy, but it also helps create a relaxed and productive atmosphere. Similarly, many tech startups offer free food and drinks in the office as a way to keep employees happy and healthy.Â
The bottom line is that if you want to improve employee experience, you need to be creative and out of the box. You need to look for new and innovative ways to engage and motivate your team – for example by creating a personalized collaborative video with Videotape. Implementing even just one of these ideas can make a big difference in how your employees feel about their work. So don’t be afraid to think outside the box – your employees will thank you for it!
Get more inspiration without having to look for it?
Receive new content twice a month.