How to host a virtual happy hour - Care/Of

Virtual Happy Hour Ideas

Virtual happy hours are intended to bring coworkers together over video conference platforms like Zoom and Google Meets for after work celebrations. These social events can improve employee relationships and strengthen their appreciation for the company. There are numerous virtual office games and activities that can make virtual social hours engaging and fun for all attendees.

The following “online happy hour” recommendations and ideas are useful for virtual team building strategies and employee engagement.

Keep it casual

Happy hour is a time for employees to relax and step away from the stresses of daily business. It offers an opportunity for teams to interact with each other in a personable manner and learn more about each others’ interests and nuances. Keep conversations casual in tone and avoid topics relating to workplace responsibilities. A successful happy hour should leave employees laughing and feeling good to be a part of the company.

Drinking activities

Even though casually sipping on an alcoholic beverage has become standard happy hour practice, it is by no means required to have a good time. If you don’t drink or simply don’t want to, then feel free to opt for a delicious non-alcoholic substitute instead. If your team has many members that prefer not to drink, perhaps avoid activities that revolve around alcohol.

The two drink-related activities mentioned below are hands-on and educational experiences that expand employees understanding and appreciation for certain beverages.

Mixology class

Get an intimate feel for the art of cocktail making with a virtual event lead by a professional mixologist. Learn about the industry tips and secrets so you can perfect easy mixed drink recipes that will definitely be a crowd pleaser at any social gathering. Getting a personal glimpse into the world of mixology may enhance your appreciation for the hard work that goes on behind the bar. Doing this event with your team is a great way to get everyone active and engaged,. And hopefully if they follow the instructions properly, they’ll be left with delicious drinks that they’ll be able to recreate for any occasion.

Virtual beer tasting

Though beer tasting is less complicated than preparing cocktails, any beer enthusiast will surely love trying an array drinks from specially selected craft breweries. There are services that simplify the preparation process and bring the drinks directly to employees’ homes so you don’t have to worry about the hassle. Through this experience, you will learn all about the varying flavours, processes, and histories behind each can. Get a taste for the wonderfully unique brews that are locally produced.

Virtual games

There is an endless number of virtual games that your team can play during an after work happy hour. These activities help foster a playful atmosphere that will get your whole crowd laughing.

Would you rather

During this classic game, your team will vote between hypothetical scenarios and respective alternatives. You can find a list of questions online, or you can create your own. Then, team members must justify and defend their selections. The purpose of this game is to facilitate light-hearted conversations around surreal realities- it forces the group to be silly and avoid heavy, business and political related topics.

Party tricks

Everyone has a quirk that they love to show off during a party. Ask people about their party tricks and take turns demonstrating the bizarre skills they take pride in. Impress your coworkers and be impressed with their unique and probably useless talents.

Noisy Charades

Charades is a well-loved party game, but add a little twist to the rules to keep it fresh and utterly hilarious. Rather than using your body to act out your prompts, this version of the game requires participants to only use noises. Have fun looking like a fool as you attempt to mimic the sound of a lawnmower or an angry dog.

Watch party

If you notice conversations are getting repetitive or your team keeps returning to the same topics, perhaps add a communal activity that doesn’t require much talking. Host a watch party of some classic films or tv shows. Pick something that many of your team members haven’t seen so they can feel excited to join along. Or, if you want to keep things light-hearted and funny, watch trashy reality television and encourage live commentary on the show’s absurdity. Cuddle up on the couch with loved ones and have a laugh.

Send party snacks

No movie night is complete without an array of snacks. You can send packages of yummy treats to your employees so everyone can get the full cinematic experience. Use a gifting service to send snacks directly to everyone’s door so you don’t have to worry about coordinating packages and addresses. You just get to sit back and enjoy the film.

There are endless ways a company can host a virtual happy hour that gets everyone involved. These are a few suggestions on what you could do, but it is advised that you understand your team’s interests and curate a range of activities that will ensure maximum satisfaction.