14 Unique Remote Orientation Ideas for Virtual Teams

Here is our list of the best remote orientation ideas.

Remote orientation ideas are virtual events a company conducts to acquaint newly hired workers with each other and the company. These online activities are ways to welcome new staff members to the organization. Examples include Virtual Scavenger Hunts, Themed Meetings, and Mindful Mondays. The purpose of these activities is to assist new employees in adjusting to their online workplace and making connections with their coworkers.

Remote orientation ideas are similar to online orientation ideas and can be part of your online onboarding strategy. You can get welcome gifts for new hires to boost your team’s happiness.

This list includes:

• orientation ideas for remote employees
• remote orientation activities
• remote orientation games
• online new hire orientation ideas

Let’s get started!

List of remote orientation ideas

Here is our list of some of the best remote orientation games and activities to welcome new employees on board and create a positive environment on their first day.

1. Team Map

As a fun team building activity, creating a team map can help new employees quickly identify their coworkers’ locations.

​Here is how to participate in this activity:

1. Start a shared presentation with Google Slides or Microsoft PowerPoint.
2. Put a map of the globe onto a whiteboard slide.
3. Ask attendees to place a red pin on their current location.
4. Ask the members to discuss something interesting about their home state or region.
5. Create a PDF of the map.
6. Include the link to the PDF in the meeting notes you send to team members.

You can also print your team map and mail employees a hard copy as an alternative to PDF distribution.

2. Virtual Scavenger Hunt

A Virtual Scavenger Hunt is a great way to break the ice with new hires and encourage teamwork.

​Here is how to organize this game:

1. Prepare a list of household items to find. For example, you could list utensils, pots and pans, staplers, pins, and notepads.
2. ​Set up a Zoom meeting, and invite all participants.
3. When all members have joined the session, name the items one by one, and ask players to find them.
4. The players will get two minutes to find each object.
5. After locating each item, participants will show it to the camera.
6. The participant who finds the most objects wins.

​You can also send virtual prizes to the winning participant to encourage hard work. Another idea is to invite managers and employees from different departments to play, which will help various divisions get to know one another.

Check out this guide to online scavenger hunts.

3. Would You Rather

Would You Rather is among the best remote orientation activities to break the ice at work. You can host a Would You Rather session and ask each participant questions.

Some examples are:

• Would you rather be a celebrity or live like a hermit?
• Would you rather paint or sew?
• Would you rather live for ten centuries or only half a century?
• Would you rather swim across the Atlantic Ocean or bike across the United States?
• Would you rather be stung by a bee or eat a bug?
• Would you rather become a relative of Oprah or Simon Cowell?
• Would you rather be able to play any instrument or speak any language?
• Would you rather have a name that people spell wrong or one that they forget?
• Would you rather have no children or 20?
• Would you rather be able to read faster than everyone else or run faster than everyone else?

These questions are great for helping new hires get to know coworkers. Employees can use these questions to identify common ground with other team members.

4. Remote Orientation Bingo

Bingo is one of the most popular and engaging online orientation games. Large teams should meet in Zoom breakout rooms to participate in this activity. However, if you have fewer than ten participants, then you can also conduct just one Zoom meeting.

You can make your own prompt cards to make the remote orientation fun.

Here are some examples:

​Here is how to play the game:

1. Send the customized orientation Bingo prompt cards to your staff. You can also make prompts associated with different events, such as Christmas, Halloween, and Harry Potter.
2. Each employee will check the box that relates to them.
3. The player who completes a row, column, or diagonal will say, “Bingo!” and get a prize.

New hires can get to know their coworkers better by sharing their Bingo cards after the game. The other players will know what each member ticked, which will help them learn more about their coworkers. However, do not forget to mix up the sequence of the squares, or else all participants will yell “Bingo!” simultaneously.

5. Photo-Sharing Event

Hosting a Photo-Sharing Event is a great idea to make the participants comfortable with the discussion during the orientation. This activity also gives new members a topic to talk about. In this exercise, you will host a Zoom meeting, ask members to share photos on a topic, and have them tell the story behind the photo. The members can either share their screens or send photos in the group chat.

Here are some examples of scenarios and topics for the game:

• Members can share pictures of their families, hobbies, favorite places to visit, and even their hometowns.
• Make the activity humorous by having workers share a hilarious photo of themselves and the story behind it.
• Make the game travel themed by having workers bring in pictures from the many areas they have visited worldwide.
• Have a contest where coworkers guess who is in childhood photos.

This event can be a great idea for your teams to bond and learn more about one another.

6. Themed Meetings

Gatherings organized around a central theme will foster solidarity among attendees. A fun way to personalize your new hire orientation is to find employees’ favorite movies, TV series, musicians, or bands and use that as the basis for the event. You can customize the Zoom background in the online meeting according to the theme. For example, if the theme is for a movie, then attendees can use the movie poster or their favorite character as their background.

Participants can even dress according to the specified theme. For example, the theme can be superhero costumes or ugly Christmas sweaters. You can take pictures or screenshots at these events and share them in a group chat afterward. A themed meeting will be a great occasion to snap some photos to remember this time in the future.

7. Virtual Orientation Lunch

A welcome lunch is a great addition to your new employee orientation. Team members can take advantage of this opportunity to socialize and get to know one another in a relaxed and comfortable setting.

​To host a virtual lunch, follow these guidelines:

1. Make a lunchtime Zoom appointment.
2. Ensure attendees have access to a healthy and delicious meal by sending out digital gift cards for lunch in advance.
3. ​If possible, ask attendees to order the same or similar dishes.
4. During lunch, ask all members formally introduce themselves to the new hires.
5. You can also discuss the meal or topics unrelated to work.

Your team will appreciate the opportunity to meet the newest group member while also having lunch in the remote setting.

Here are more online team lunch ideas.

8. Virtual Leadership Panel

A Virtual Leadership Panel is one of the best ways to meet the team online. Having a virtual guest speaker is a great way to get the attention of your current and new staff. You can also invite key departmental executives to serve as panelists at your orientation event to help with this activity.

Since it is inspirational for new hires to hear from an experienced senior leader, you can host this remote orientation activity by following these steps:

1. Create a panel of company management.
2. ​Send out fliers introducing the speakers.
3. ​Schedule the Zoom call.
4. ​During the session, each leader will talk about themselves and their journey in the organization.
5. You can also ask the speakers to talk about interesting facts about themselves, like how long they have been with the company or what they like to do for fun.
6. After each leader introduces themselves, host a Q&A session where new hires can ask questions about the company and their jobs.

Hosting a Virtual Leadership Panel is one of the finest methods for new workers to hear from company leaders and ask crucial questions. This activity will ensure new employees feel like a part of the company. The new hires will ask questions, and the speakers will address and answer their concerns. Therefore, the new employees will feel like the organization values their queries and considers their concerns. Additionally, this event will show new employees that you care about their growth and learning beyond their daily tasks by highlighting the important factors in the journey and providing suggestions.

9. Virtual Trivia Session

A Virtual Trivia Session is one of the best remote orientation ideas. This fun activity helps coworkers relax and feel more at ease with one another.

You can decide on the subject in advance, such as movies, sports, or even inquiries about your company. Trivia about the company is a fun and challenging way to introduce new employees to the firm’s culture and inner workings.

Here are some examples of company-related questions you can ask:

1. When was the company founded?
2. How many employees does the firm currently have?
3. What colors are in the company logo?
4. What is the story behind the company’s name?
5. What are the average working hours of employees in the company?

Once you write all your trivia questions, here is how to play the game:

1. Start a Zoom session, and split players into two teams.
2. Ask team one trivia questions, and set a time limit for the answer.
3. If team one answers incorrectly, then team two gets the chance to respond.
4. If team two answers correctly, then they get bonus points.
5. Make sure you keep a record on the scoreboard.

As the new hires would only know a little about the business, you can mix the new hires and present employees when making teams. The existing employees can tell new employees about the company before answering questions.

New hires can get to know their coworkers, have fun, and learn about the firm’s past while competing with one another.

Here is a guide to online trivia.

10. Ties That Bind

Finding common ground in virtual workplaces can help new employees immediately bond with their colleagues.

Here is how to play this game:

1.  Pair up teams of existing and new employees.
2. ​Give each team two minutes to find at least five common interests between them.
3. Each pair will discuss and ask questions about shared habits or interests over a video session.

You can also bring a twist to this game by asking all members a question at once. The members will answer in the group chat. Then, teammates with shared passions, like swimming, Harry Potter, or diet consciousness, can even start group chats and invite others to join.

11. Care Packages

Sending care packages to new recruits during the first few weeks of employment is one of the more thoughtful remote orientation ideas. With the help of the rest of the team, you can create and mail custom care packages.

You can include the following products in your care package for new employees:

• Laptop stickers and case
• Notebooks, sticky notes, and pens
• Coffee mugs
• Water bottles
• Stress balls
• Earbuds
• Inspirational quotes
• Business cards
• Snacks

You can also tuck a gift card in the care packages to make them even more personalized. Another great idea to make new hires happy is sending them a video of the department wishing them well.

12. Mindful Mondays

Group meditation, or just a few minutes of quiet reflection, is a motivational way to encourage team building. In addition, this activity shows new hires that you genuinely care about them and their success in their roles.

​To incorporate this meditation activity, follow these simple steps:

1. Host Zoom meetings on Mondays.
2. Have your teams participate in group meditations for a predetermined time.
3. ​Discuss how employees plan to deal with stress during the week.
4. Redirect your team’s attention to health and stress management to alleviate stress as a group.

Initially, this activity might differ from the kind of virtual activity in which members play games and do tasks. The purpose of this activity is to share thoughts and motivational ideas with others to help them cope with stress. You will be amazed at how powerful meditation can foster genuine friendships and cooperation.

13. Virtual Happy Hour

Hosting a Virtual Happy Hour is a casual, engaging method to make orientation more memorable. You can give your new hires a stress-free virtual happy hour so they can unwind and get to know the company.

Here is how to host a Virtual Happy Hour:

1. Send out a happy hour celebration box to the new recruits before the event. The box can be a cocktail, cookie, or chocolate kit.
2. Invite members to a Zoom meeting.
3. During the call, have attendees mix their cocktails and mingle.

​You can also consult a website to host the event. The bartender will guide the attendees throughout the session and teach them how to prepare the drinks and food.

A happy hour allows your new hires to be themselves while getting to know their coworkers.

Here are more online happy hour ideas.

14. Alliteration Introduction

One of the most effective orientation ideas for remote employees is to use alliteration. This activity is a great way to have a fun conversation with your coworkers and learn more about them.

Here is how to play this game:

1. Invite all participants to a Zoom session.
2. Ask each member to introduce themselves by adding an adjective to the beginning of their name.
3. Each player’s adjective should start with the same letter as their first name.
4. Tell participants to pick adjectives that best reflect their identity.

Employees can take turns introducing themselves. For example, one can be Clumsy Carol, while the next might be Dedicated David.

​Participants will find it helpful to recall the names of their teammates by associating an adjective with each name.

Conclusion

Even in a remote setting, the first day at a new job can be nerve-racking for an employee. With the right online orientation ideas, you can assist new hires in feeling more at ease while they learn about the processes and values of the team. The remote orientation ideas on this list can help celebrate the beginning of a journey of virtual workers and establish the new hire as an essential team member.

Next, check out our lists of online conference ideas, online employee appreciation ideas, and creative remote team engagement ideas.