Employee Engagement Activities Calendar with Gifting Ideas

Whether you're managing corporate events, planning for the festive season, or tracking engagement metrics, this calendar helps you stay organized, inclusive, and effective.

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Employees spend a big part of their lives at work, so why not make it meaningful and fun?

An employee engagement calendar is more than just an HR planning tool, it brings energy, celebration, and purpose to the workplace all year long. It supports team bonding, strengthens employee recognition, and promotes workplace wellness.

This guide provides a ready-to-use activity calendar packed with monthly ideas, gifting suggestions, and HR tips. 

Whether you’re managing corporate events, planning for the festive season, or tracking engagement metrics, this calendar helps you stay organized, inclusive, and effective.

Explore our corporate gift planner calendar.

Here are the employee engagement activity calendar at a glance:

Cultural & Festivals
Health & Wellness
Team Building
Recognition & Appreciation
Innovation & Learning
January
1st – New Year Gifting
Welcome Back Kits, Vision Board Workshop
January – Lohri/Makar Sankranti/Pongal
Traditional Dress Day, Office Potluck
12th – National Youth Day
Young Leader Spotlight, Innovation Hackathon
26th – Republic Day
Tricolor Dress Code, India Quiz Challenge
February
4th – World Cancer Day
Health Awareness Webinar, Healthy Living Week
14th – Valentine’s Day
Secret Gratitude Exchange, Heart Wall Activity
17th – Random Acts of Kindness Day
Kindness Bingo Challenge, Surprise Compliment Day
March
8th – International Women’s Day
Women in Leadership Panel, Story Wall
March – Holi
Holi Color Splash, DIY Rangoli Contest
Friday before equinox – World Sleep Day
“Sleep Well” Webinar, Pajama Dress Code Day
April
1st – April Fool’s Day
“Guess the Lie” Game, Funny Awards Ceremony
7th – World Health Day
Health Camp, Mindfulness Workshop
22nd – Earth Day
Green Pledge Wall, Office Planting Drive
23rd – World Book Day
Book Swap Booth, Book Club Kickoff
May
1st – Labour Day
Wall of Gratitude, Service Milestone Celebration
Second Sunday – Mother’s Day
Mom Hero Wall, “Mom Says” Wisdom Challenge
Mid-May – Mental Health Awareness Week
Mental Health Webinar, Digital Detox Challenge
June
5th – Environment Day
Sustainability Webinar, “Green Your Desk” Drive
July
17th – World Emoji Day
Emoji-Only Conversations, Best Emoji Caption Contest
Mid to Late July – Hackathon/Innovation Week
24-Hour Hackathon, Idea Incubator Booths
August
15th – Independence Day
Tricolor Desk Decoration Contest, India Quiz League
19th – World Photography Day
Photo of the Week Contest, Photography Wall
September
5th – Teachers’ Day
Peer-to-Peer Mentorship Awards, Learning Challenge
14th – Hindi Diwas
Poetry & Shayari Jam, Desi Dialogue Challenge
October
2nd – Gandhi Jayanti
“Walk for a Cause” Challenge, Simplicity Day
October – Dussehra
“Defeat the Evil” Wall, Mythology Quiz Contest
Late Oct/Early Nov – Diwali
Festive Desk Makeover Contest, Diya Painting Station
November
14th – Children’s Day
Coloring Wall Contest, Old School Games Hour
Fourth Thursday – Thanksgiving
Thank You Tree, Appreciation Circle
December
25th – Christmas
Secret Santa Gift Exchange, Christmas Carnival
December – Year End
Digital Memory Wall, Best Moments Highlights

What is an Employee Engagement Calendar?

An employee engagement calendar is a simple plan that shows what activities a company will do to keep employees happy and motivated. It includes fun events, team games, learning sessions, workplace wellness programs, and special days like festivals or birthdays. Companies use this HR calendar to plan these activities every month or throughout the year.

Small businesses can use it to show they care about their team without spending too much. Big companies use it to keep employees connected, even in different cities or countries. This calendar helps everyone feel included and appreciated. 

When employees feel good at work, they stay longer and do better. A good activity calendar makes the workplace more fun and positive.

Why Should HR Teams Create an Annual Employee Engagement Calendar?

1. Builds a Positive Work Culture

An engagement calendar helps create a happy and supportive workplace. When HR plans regular events, employees feel included and appreciated. Celebrating corporate events, birthdays, and team wins builds trust and a sense of belonging, making the office a more friendly and fun place to work.

2. Boosts Employee Morale

Employees feel excited and motivated when they know fun and meaningful activities are coming. Small things like thank-you notes or team lunches can make a big difference. This type of employee recognition makes people feel proud to be part of the company.

3. Improves Retention and Reduces Turnover

Engaged employees are more likely to stay in the company. When HR uses a well-structured HR calendar for regular engagement, people feel connected and cared for. This reduces hiring costs and improves loyalty.

4. Encourages Better Team Bonding

Activities like games, group outings, or team lunches help employees get to know each other. These moments build strong personal connections and improve communication, making it easier to work as a team.

5. Supports Mental Health and Workplace Wellness

Wellness days, health talks, and stress-relief sessions show that the company cares about employee wellbeing. Adding these to the engagement calendar promotes workplace wellness and helps employees stay happy and healthy.

6. Helps Plan Ahead and Stay Consistent

An annual calendar is an essential HR planning tool. It allows teams to organise events in advance and stay consistent throughout the year. It helps avoid last-minute stress and ensures engagement stays on track during peak and slow seasons.

7. Makes Employee Engagement Measurable

Using engagement metrics, HR can track which activities worked best. Feedback from employees helps improve future planning. This also shows leadership the impact of incentive programs and engagement efforts over time.

Monthly employee engagement activity plan with gifting ideas

1. January

1. New Year gifting

Engagement Theme/Purpose:
 Kick off the year by welcoming employees with energy, purpose, and personalized experiences. This is a great time to motivate teams, align goals, and build early momentum through reflective and future-oriented activities.

Employee engagement activity ideas:

  • Welcome Back Kits: Distribute customised kits with planners, snacks, desk items, and an inspiring letter from leadership.
  • Vision Board Workshop: Employees create a digital or physical board that maps out personal and team goals.
  • Letter to Future Self: Encourage employees to write a letter to themselves, sealed until year-end.
  • Motivational Monday Series: Weekly short videos or messages from leaders on setting intentions and productivity.

Gifting Ideas:

HR Tips:

  • Schedule skip-level check-ins to discuss employee goals.
  • Use this month to reintroduce company OKRs and wellness benefits.
  • Offer a goal-tracking template to help employees stay aligned.
  • Encourage teams to set fun team-specific resolutions.

2. Lohri / Makar Sankranti / Pongal

Engagement Theme/Purpose:
Celebrate India’s vibrant harvest festivals with activities that spotlight regional diversity, cultural bonding, and traditional values. These festivities promote inclusion and team unity through food, fashion, and shared heritage.

Employee engagement activity ideas:

  • Traditional Dress Day: Invite employees to wear attire reflecting their culture or region.
  • Office Potluck or Regional Snack Boxes: Curate a day for regional delicacies — in-office or via delivery.
  • Harvest Quiz or Antakshari: A fun knowledge-based game on Indian culture and music.
  • Decorate Your Desk Contest: Let employees use colorful themes like kites, rangoli, or lamps.

Gifting Ideas:

HR Tips:

  • Promote cultural representation by encouraging employees to share festival stories.
  • Host an all-hands to appreciate the diversity in your workforce.
  • Capture photos and share highlights on your internal channels.
  • Consider flexible hours around regional holidays.

3. National Youth Day (January 12)

Engagement Theme/Purpose:
National Youth Day, observed on Swami Vivekananda’s birth anniversary, is a chance to engage younger employees through inspiration, innovation, and showcasing potential. It’s ideal for energizing future leaders.

Employee engagement activity ideas:

  • Young Leader Spotlight: Feature stories of young employees or achievers in your company.
  • Innovation Hackathon: Invite employees to pitch quick ideas to improve company culture or processes.
  • Motivational Talk: Host a speaker session from a youth icon or startup founder.
  • Social Media Challenge: “What Inspires You?” photo or video challenge with small rewards.

Gifting Ideas:

HR Tips:

  • Use polls or forms to identify rising talent.
  • Launch mentorship matches this month.
  • Share resources on skill-building platforms.
  • Encourage leadership to support younger team members with time and guidance.

4. Republic Day (January 26)

Engagement Theme/Purpose:
Republic Day is perfect for celebrating unity, inclusion, and pride in the workplace. Through fun activities that blend patriotism and employee recognition, companies can strengthen cultural identity and teamwork.

Employee engagement activity ideas:

  • Tricolor Dress Code & Photo Booth: Ask teams to wear tricolor and share pictures on internal channels.
  • India Quiz Challenge: A trivia session based on history, constitution, and culture.
  • Patriotic Playlist Contest: Employees share or perform their favorite national songs.
  • Make-in-India Innovation Showcase: Highlight Indian-made tools/products used by your company.

Gifting Ideas:

HR Tips:

  • Acknowledge remote team contributions in national campaigns.
  • Share employee stories around “What India means to me.”
  • Reinforce company values that align with inclusivity and growth.
  • Use the occasion to launch social initiatives or CSR campaigns.

2. February

1. Valentine’s Day (February 14)

Engagement Theme/Purpose:
Valentine’s Day isn’t just for couples—it’s a chance to spread kindness and appreciation across the workplace. This occasion is ideal for recognizing peer support and building emotional connection among employees.

Employee engagement activity ideas:

  • Secret Gratitude Exchange: Employees are randomly assigned peers to send thank-you notes or small gestures.
  • Heart Wall Activity: Set up a space (or Slack thread) where employees write appreciation notes on paper hearts.
  • ‘Who’s Your Work Buddy?’ Contest: Share stories or pictures of teammates who always have your back.

Gifting Ideas:

HR Tips:

  • Remind employees that appreciation boosts morale.
  • Promote inclusion by keeping all activities open and friendly, not romantic.
  • Recognize team spirit, not just individual performance.

2. World Cancer Day (February 4)

Engagement Theme/Purpose:
A global awareness day to educate and engage employees on health consciousness, cancer prevention, and support for those impacted.

Employee engagement activity ideas:

  • Health Awareness Webinar: Host a session with a doctor or NGO.
  • Pink Ribbon Donation Drive: Partner with a cause and match employee contributions.
  • Healthy Living Week: Share daily health tips and distribute nutritious snack boxes.

Gifting Ideas:

HR Tips:

  • Circulate preventive health checkup tie-ups.
  • Allow time off for health screenings.
  • Acknowledge survivors or affected team members with empathy.

3. Random Acts of Kindness Day (February 17)

Engagement Theme/Purpose:
Promote empathy and positivity at work by encouraging small acts of kindness that create a ripple effect across teams.

Employee engagement activity ideas:

  • Kindness Bingo Challenge: Employees check off random good deeds they do during the week.
  • Surprise Compliment Day: Write anonymous compliments and have them delivered randomly.
  • ‘Kindest Team’ Shoutout: Recognize the team that goes above and beyond to help others.

Gifting Ideas:

HR Tips:

  • Encourage managers to lead with kindness.
  • Share real employee stories that highlight empathy.
  • Track and display “kindness points” publicly for fun.

3. March

1. International Women’s Day (March 8)

Engagement Theme/Purpose:
 Celebrate, support, and recognize women at work. Use this day to talk about equity, empowerment, and inclusive leadership.

Employee engagement activity ideas:

  • Women in Leadership Panel: Host internal or guest speakers to share career journeys.
  • Story Wall: Feature stories of women employees or their role models.
  • Allyship Pledge Board: Everyone signs up to support equity in the workplace.

Gifting Ideas:

HR Tips:

  • Review maternity, hybrid, and mentorship policies.
  • Run bias-awareness micro-sessions.
  • Nominate and celebrate women role models in the team.

2. Holi

Engagement Theme/Purpose:
Celebrate the festival of colors with vibrant activities that foster joy, connection, and cultural inclusion.

Employee engagement activity ideas:

  • Holi Color Splash: In-office safe color play or virtual color-themed dress contests.
  • DIY Rangoli Station or Contest: Decorate a collaborative space or share entries online.
  • Sweet Treat Tasting: Distribute gujiya or other regional festive snacks.

Gifting Ideas:

HR Tips:

  • Promote cultural respect and safety for color play.
  • Share local stories around Holi from different states.
  • Send virtual celebration kits for remote employees.

3. World Sleep Day (March – Friday before equinox)

Engagement Theme/Purpose:
Encourage better rest and work-life balance. A fun way to promote sleep hygiene in an always-on work culture.

Employee engagement activity ideas:

  • “Sleep Well” Webinar: Expert-led session on quality rest and routines.
  • Pajama Dress Code Day: Work in comfort (on-site or remote).
  • Sleep Tracker Challenge: Use apps or sheets to build better sleep habits.

Gifting Ideas:

HR Tips:

  • Offer time-off incentives for wellbeing habits.
  • Include sleep-focused modules in wellness apps.
  • Run a “Digital Detox” campaign for better rest.

4. April

1. April Fool’s Day (April 1)

Engagement Theme/Purpose:
A light-hearted start to the month, April Fool’s Day is perfect for boosting laughter and team bonding. With a touch of harmless humor, you can spark joy and refresh team spirit.

Employee engagement activity ideas:

  • “Guess the Lie” Game: Employees submit two truths and one lie—others guess the false one.
  • Prank War (In Good Taste): Pre-planned, HR-approved funny pranks among teams.
  • Funny Awards Ceremony: Give titles like “King of Snooze,” “Most Likely to Reply on Weekends,” etc.

Gifting Ideas:

HR Tips:

  • Set clear rules for humor—never personal or harmful.
  • Use humor to release stress in a safe, team-friendly way.
  • Share a light company blooper reel or memes.

2. World Health Day (April 7)

Engagement Theme/Purpose:
This day is about putting employee wellbeing at the forefront physical, mental, and emotional. Use it to educate, screen, and support long-term health practices.

Employee engagement activity ideas:

  • Health Camp: Free basic health check-ups in-office or via partner clinics.
  • Mindfulness Workshop: Run meditation, yoga, or digital detox sessions.
  • Deskercise Challenge: Teach simple 5-min stretches employees can do at their desks.

Gifting Ideas:

HR Tips:

  • Share monthly wellness calendar.
  • Offer reimbursement on gym, fitness, or therapy.
  • Highlight mental health resources and leaves.

3. Earth Day (April 22)

Engagement Theme/Purpose:
Earth Day is a great opportunity to promote sustainability in the workplace and encourage eco-conscious behavior in employees’ daily routines.

Employee engagement activity ideas:

  • Green Pledge Wall: Employees commit to one eco-friendly habit.
  • Office Planting Drive: Distribute small indoor plants to desks.
  • Digital Cleanup Day: Encourage decluttering inboxes and cloud storage.

Gifting Ideas:

HR Tips:

  • Track and reward eco-habits throughout the month.
  • Reduce printing and single-use plastic at the office.
  • Launch a “Green Champion” employee of the month.

4. World Book Day (April 23)

Engagement Theme/Purpose:
Encourage intellectual curiosity and a reading culture by celebrating stories, learning, and sharing diverse books.

Employee engagement activity ideas:

  • Book Swap Booth: Employees bring and exchange favorite reads.
  • Book Club Kickoff: Monthly discussions on fiction, business, or wellness books.
  • Read-Aloud Challenge: 5-minute storytelling sessions from volunteers.

Gifting Ideas:

HR Tips:

  • Start a “book of the month” thread on Slack.
  • Add reading perks in learning budgets.
  • Celebrate World Book Day with employee book reviews.

5. May

1. Labour Day (May 1)

Engagement Theme/Purpose:
Recognize and appreciate the efforts of every employee, especially frontline and support staff. It’s about dignity of work and collective growth.

Employee engagement activity ideas:

  • Wall of Gratitude: Highlighting contributions of every department.
  • Service Milestone Celebration: Recognize tenure and commitment.
  • Team Lunch or Snack Box: Small gesture to show appreciation.

Gifting Ideas:

HR Tips:

  • Thank your facility and security teams publicly.
  • Give an extra break hour or “No Meetings Day.”
  • Involve senior leaders in appreciation messages.

2. Mother’s Day (Second Sunday of May)

Engagement Theme/Purpose:
 Celebrate the strength, care, and resilience of working mothers. Recognize parenthood as a vital part of employee identity and growth.

Employee engagement activity ideas:

  • Mom Hero Wall: Share stories or photos of employee moms or mothers they admire.
  • “Mom Says” Wisdom Challenge: Fun workplace quotes inspired by moms.
  • Special Messages to Working Moms: Company-wide thank-you emails or video shout-outs.

Gifting Ideas:

HR Tips:

  • Acknowledge caregiving in performance reviews.
  • Offer “flexible Friday” or shorter hours.
  • Highlight parenting support policies or webinars.

3. Mental Health Awareness Week (varies, often mid-May)

Engagement Theme/Purpose:
Create safe spaces to talk about stress, anxiety, burnout, and psychological wellbeing. Build an emotionally intelligent workplace culture.

Employee engagement activity ideas:

  • Mental Health Webinar: Sessions with therapists on stress management or burnout.
  • Digital Detox Challenge: Encourage log-off time after hours.
  • Mood Tracker Sheets: Distribute journals or trackers for employees to self-monitor.

Gifting Ideas:

HR Tips:

  • Promote access to Employee Assistance Programs (EAP).
  • Train managers to identify early signs of stress.
  • Normalize therapy and mental health leaves.

6. June

1. Environment Day (June 5)

Engagement Theme/Purpose:
Promote sustainability within and beyond the workplace to build environmental accountability. This will also foster pride and purpose among employees.

Employee engagement activity ideas:

  • Sustainability Webinar or Workshop with an environmentalist.
  • “Green Your Desk” Drive with indoor plant giveaways.
  • Car-Free Commute Challenge – reward eco-friendly travel to work.

Gifting Ideas:

HR Tips:

  • Send monthly “green tip” newsletters.
  • Audit the office’s carbon footprint and share the results.
  • Involve employees in long-term eco-initiatives.

7. July

1. World Emoji Day (July 17)

Engagement Theme/Purpose:
A fun, lighthearted occasion to break routine and encourage creative expression. Emoji Day is perfect for informal engagement, laughter, and social sharing across teams.

Employee engagement activity ideas:

  • Emoji-Only Conversations: Set a Slack channel or chat group where communication happens using only emojis for a day.
  • Best Emoji Caption Contest: Post a company image, and employees respond using only emojis.
  • Emoji Dress Code: Employees wear T-shirts or badges with their favorite emojis.

Gifting Ideas:

HR Tips:

  • Use this as a moment to lighten the mood mid-year.
  • Encourage informal bonding through fun contests.
  • Post the best emoji captions on LinkedIn or internal newsletters.

2. Hackathon or Innovation Week (Mid to Late July)

Engagement Theme/Purpose:
Encourage employees to ideate, collaborate, and solve real company challenges. July is perfect for energizing teams with creative freedom through internal hackathons or idea contests.

Employee engagement activity ideas:

  • 24-Hour Hackathon: Solve a company or customer problem with a working prototype or pitch.
  • Idea Incubator Booths: Create zones where employees can brainstorm pain points and solutions.
  • Shark Tank Day: Employees pitch their innovations to leadership for real implementation.

Gifting Ideas:

HR Tips:

  • Offer cross-functional team formation support.
  • Include rewards like implementation opportunities.
  • Give extra leave or learning vouchers to winners.

8. August

1. Independence Day (August 15)

Engagement Theme/Purpose:
 Celebrate national pride and diversity with activities that highlight India’s culture, heritage, and achievements. It’s also a great time to reinforce values of unity and inclusion.

Employee engagement activity ideas:

  • Tricolor Desk Decoration Contest: Encourage creative patriotic displays.
  • India Quiz League: Include culture, history, inventions, and sports.
  • Cultural Showcase: Music, dance, or attire from different Indian states.
  • Patriotic Playlist Jam: Employees share their favorite national songs.

Gifting Ideas:

HR Tips:

  • Ensure inclusive language and representation in all content.
  • Celebrate regional contributions across the team.
  • Capture and share celebration videos company-wide.

2. World Photography Day (August 19)

Engagement Theme/Purpose:
Use this visual storytelling occasion to celebrate creativity and personal expression. It encourages employees to share life moments beyond the workplace.

Employee engagement activity ideas:

  • Photo of the Week Contest: Categories like “Work From Home Moments,” “Weekend Wanderlust,” etc.
  • Photography Wall (Digital or Physical): Feature employee photos with their backstories.
  • Mini Workshop: Host a session with a hobby photographer on taking better smartphone photos.

Gifting Ideas:

HR Tips:

  • Encourage creativity as a core work value.
  • Recognize hidden talents through storytelling.
  • Share winning photos on company socials or blogs.

9. September

1. Teachers’ Day (September 5)

Engagement Theme/Purpose:
Celebrate learning and mentorship by recognizing employees who help others grow. A perfect moment to encourage knowledge-sharing and cross-skill collaboration.

Employee engagement activity ideas:

  • Peer-to-Peer Mentorship Awards: Celebrate employees who coach or train others.
  • “Who Taught You Best?” Wall: Share stories of mentors or managers who made a difference.
  • Learning Challenge Leaderboard: Track top course completions and certifications.

Gifting Ideas:

HR Tips:

  • Kickstart an internal mentorship program.
  • Encourage monthly team-level “Teach Back” sessions.
  • Celebrate L&D success stories in newsletters.

2. Hindi Diwas (September 14)

Engagement Theme/Purpose:
Promote linguistic diversity and cultural pride by celebrating Hindi and regional languages. A great occasion to connect teams through storytelling and creative writing.

Employee engagement activity ideas:

  • Poetry & Shayari Jam: Invite employees to perform original or favorite works.
  • Desi Dialogue Challenge: Translate popular movie lines or idioms across languages.
  • Hindi Kahani Hour: Employees share stories from childhood or family in Hindi.

Gifting Ideas:

HR Tips:

  • Encourage multilingualism in internal comms.
  • Include regional language options for internal campaigns.
  • Recognize creativity and cultural knowledge equally.

10. October

1. Gandhi Jayanti (October 2)

Engagement Theme/Purpose:
Gandhi Jayanti is an opportunity to reflect on values like simplicity, honesty, and non-violence. It’s ideal for encouraging mindfulness, ethics, and purpose-driven work in a quiet, meaningful way.

Employee engagement activity ideas:

  • “Walk for a Cause” Challenge: Encourage steps walked or actions taken toward a social cause.
  • Simplicity Day: Employees work with minimalist setups, no digital clutter, simplified meetings.
  • Gandhian Values Wall: Share quotes, anecdotes, and employee stories about humility and service.

Gifting Ideas:

HR Tips:

  • Promote simplicity in internal communications this week.
  • Encourage small, personal CSR pledges.
  • Recognize employees who display Gandhian values.

2. Dussehra (Date varies)

Engagement Theme/Purpose:
 Dussehra signifies the victory of good over evil and is ideal for team bonding, mythological trivia, and celebrating cultural diversity in the office.

Employee engagement activity ideas:

  • “Defeat the Evil” Wall: Employees write down one bad habit they want to quit.
  • Mythology Quiz Contest: Include Dussehra-themed trivia from across regions.
  • Traditional Dress Day + Photo Wall: Celebrate with ethnic attire and festive decor.

Gifting Ideas:

HR Tips:

  • Ensure inclusive representation of regional stories.
  • Share safe celebration guidelines for hybrid teams.
  • Encourage use of cultural hashtags for internal social posts.

3. Diwali (Late October or Early November)

Engagement Theme/Purpose:
Diwali is the most awaited festive celebration in the workplace. It’s the time for joy, gifting, togetherness, and sharing gratitude before the year ends.

Employee engagement activity ideas:

  • Festive Desk Makeover Contest: Encourage sparkle and color at workstations.
  • Online Tambola or Cultural Night: Remote and hybrid teams play games or host music nights.
  • Diya Painting Station: Employees decorate diyas and take them home.
  • Gift Box Ceremony: Distribute curated festive hampers to every employee.

Gifting Ideas:

HR Tips:

  • Allow early log-off before festival days.
  • Acknowledge support staff with equal gifting.
  • Use this time to send out annual thank-you notes from leadership.

11. November

1. Children’s Day (November 14)

Engagement Theme/Purpose:
Celebrate nostalgia and creativity by inviting employees to tap into their inner child. It’s also a great way to engage employees who are parents through family-friendly ideas.

Employee engagement activity ideas:

  • Coloring Wall / Digital Drawing Contest: Employees or their kids share drawings on a fun theme.
  • Bring Your Kid to (Virtual) Work: Host a child-friendly online event or talent show.
  • Old School Games Hour: Antakshari, hopscotch, or indoor childhood favorites in the office.

Gifting Ideas:

HR Tips:

  • Share employee childhood photos in a collage.
  • Run a “Guess Who” contest with baby photos.
  • Recognize parenting tips in newsletters.

2. Thanksgiving (Fourth Thursday of November)

Engagement Theme/Purpose:
 While not traditionally Indian, Thanksgiving is a beautiful moment to pause and appreciate the people and moments that made the year meaningful. It works well in global or hybrid workplaces.

Employee engagement activity ideas:

  • Thank You Tree: Employees add leaves with gratitude messages for peers.
  • Appreciation Circle: Teams come together to thank each other publicly.
  • Virtual Potluck (for remote teams): Share recipes or dining photos from home.

Gifting Ideas:

HR Tips:

  • Encourage peer-to-peer nominations for gratitude awards.
  • Share leadership thank-you videos.
  • Use this time to kick off year-end reflections.

12. December

Christmas (December 25)

Engagement Theme/Purpose:
Celebrate joy, togetherness, and giving. Christmas is ideal for fun, games, and heartwarming activities that lift morale and end the year on a cheerful note.

Employee engagement activity ideas:

  • Secret Santa Gift Exchange: Organized across departments or virtually.
  • Ugly Sweater or Santa Cap Day: Photo contests with prizes for best outfit.
  • Christmas Carnival or Game Hour: Set up games like “Christmas Bingo” or “Guess the Carol.”
  • Digital Memory Wall: Showcase highlights and wins from the year with employee inputs.

Gifting Ideas:

HR Tips:

  • Send personalized thank-you emails with feedback from managers.
  • Run “Best Moments of the Year” highlights.
  • Offer flexible leaves around holidays.
  • Announce plans or dates for upcoming year kick-off in January.

Final Words

An annual employee engagement calendar is more than just a schedule, it’s a strategy to build a happy, connected, and motivated workplace. 

From festive season planning and wellness days to innovation contests and employee recognition drives, these planned corporate events help boost morale, improve team bonding, and reduce turnover.

By adding thoughtful incentive programs and gifts, HR teams can make each moment more meaningful. Whether you run a small business or manage a global workforce, tailoring your activity calendar to match your values, culture, and people will drive long-term impact. 

Use this tool to track engagement metrics, celebrate achievements, and nurture a workplace everyone enjoys.

Picture of Rases Changoiwala

Rases Changoiwala

Rases Changoiwala is a Corporate Gifting Expert with over 9 years of experience in the industry. He is the CMO and Co-Founder of TapWell, a leading Corporate and Employee Gifting brand in India, a company he bootstrapped with his wife in 2015. His passion lies in curating personalized gift experiences that strengthen relationships and bring joy.