A new study by Avva Experience suggests regular virtual teambuilding events can improve employee mental health and wellbeing, as well as talent retention in hybrid and fully remote workplaces.
- 83% felt more engaged with their teams
- One in six less likely to quit
- 80% experienced improved mental health
- One-fifth felt more productive
The corporate experience provider surveyed remote workers across 1,000 companies and found that virtual events – such as online murder mysteries, origami making and trivia quizzes – improve employee engagement, morale, and overall satisfaction.
According to the study, 80% of respondents felt virtual events had a positive impact on their mental health, with one in five feeling more productive. In addition, 83% of respondents strongly agreed that virtual events improved employee engagement. The study also found that one in six employees were less likely to quit their jobs after participating in virtual events.
This follows a 2023 survey by Direct Line Group, which revealed almost two-thirds of small and medium-sized enterprises struggle to retain valuable talent due to the current economic climate.
Avva Experience CEO and co-founder, Barnaby Sellers, commented: “In recent years, there’s been a significant focus on work-life balance. Companies are prioritising the mental health of their employees by offering flexible work environments through hybrid and remote working options. However, keeping remote teams interacting with each other can be challenging.
“To tackle this challenge, virtual experiences are becoming a popular tool for companies looking to enhance employee morale and productivity remotely, while also improving staff retention. Our study shows just how vital remote team building is, and it’s also extremely rewarding to know we’ve helped improve the mental wellbeing of our clients’ workforce.”
In addition to employee benefits, virtual events are a much more sustainable option than in-person events. According to a study by the University of Michigan, virtual events can reduce carbon footprint by up to 94% and energy use by up to 90%.
Interestingly, Avva Experience also found that Thursdays are the most popular day for virtual events to be run, with 36% of events taking place on that day. Zoom is the most popular platform for virtual events, with 88% of events conducted here. Finally, the study found that escape rooms and challenges are the most popular types of experiences to be booked, followed by immersive acts and shows.
