World Kindness Day takes place on November 13, making it a great opportunity to show your teammates some appreciation and spread a little joy.
Looking for ways to celebrate? These 10 World Kindness Day activities for work give remote, hybrid, and in-office teams plenty of ways to join in. Pick a few favorites, make time during the workday, and keep participation optional!
1. Play CrowdParty’s Random Acts of Kindness Party! 🎉
Bring your team together for a game break with a thoughtful twist!
CrowdParty’s Random Acts of Kindness Party mixes Trivia, Majority Wins, Pick Who, and Would You Rather rounds to get everyone thinking about ways to spread kindness.
Teammates can weigh different good deeds, discover who’s most likely to brighten someone’s day, and find inspiration for their next kind gesture. Suddenly, choosing between buying someone a coffee and writing a thoughtful note becomes a team discussion!
Make it part of your World Kindness Day celebration or gather everyone for an afternoon game break.
Pro Tip: After the game, invite everyone to choose one kindness idea they’d like to try that week.
2. Send a “You Made My Day” Note 💛
That thing your coworker did last Tuesday? They might have no idea you’re still grateful for it.
Set aside five minutes for teammates to write a short note to someone who helped them recently. Get specific! Think of the person who walked you through a confusing process, gave helpful feedback, or made you feel welcome on your first day.
Need a starting point? Try:
- “I really appreciated how you…”
- “Something I’ve learned from you is…”
- “You made a tricky day better by…”
Leave a handwritten card on their desk or send a private message. A few thoughtful sentences are plenty!
Pro Tip: Include people outside your immediate team. Helpful colleagues deserve to hear that their efforts matter, too.
3. Create a Kindness Challenge Jar
Your next good deed is waiting on a tiny piece of paper!
Fill a jar with simple kindness challenges and invite teammates to pick one to complete during the day. For remote teams, post a numbered list in your team chat and have everyone choose a number before revealing the prompts.
Try these ideas:
- Share a useful resource with someone who needs it.
- Give a teammate credit for a great idea.
- Invite someone new to join your lunch break.
- Offer to be a second pair of eyes on a piece of work.
- Send an encouraging message before someone’s presentation.
Pro Tip: Keep the challenges small and free to complete. Everyone should be able to join without adding a shopping trip to their day!
4. Host a Coffee and Conversation Break ☕
Give teammates a chance to catch up with someone they don’t usually work with.
Pair up volunteers for a 15-minute coffee break, in person or over a video call. Bring your favorite drink and a few conversation starters:
- What’s a small thing that always cheers you up?
- What’s the best advice someone has shared with you?
- What would your ideal lunch break look like?
- What’s something you’re looking forward to outside work?
You might discover a shared hobby, a new lunch spot, or another person with very strong opinions about tea.
Pro Tip: Have new teammates joining? Browse our icebreakers for new teams for more ways to get the conversation going!
5. Build a Team Kindness Wall
Give the small, thoughtful moments at work somewhere to shine!
Set up an office board or shared digital space where people can post examples of kindness they’ve noticed. Invite contributions throughout the day, with prompts like:
- “A thoughtful thing someone did this week…”
- “A moment that made me feel included…”
- “A small gesture I’d love to see more often…”
Maybe someone made sure a remote teammate could join the conversation or took time to explain an unfamiliar acronym. Those moments deserve a little recognition!
Pro Tip: Ask before naming someone publicly. People can share the gesture without identifying the person behind it.
6. Run a “Can I Lend a Hand?” Session 🤝
There’s probably someone on your team who can solve the spreadsheet problem you’ve been staring at all morning.
Create two columns on a shared board: “I could use help with…” and “I can help with…” Give everyone a chance to add a small request or offer, then connect teammates for short help sessions.
Ideas could include:
- Practicing the opening of a presentation.
- Learning a handy keyboard shortcut.
- Finding the right template.
- Getting feedback on an email draft.
Set aside 15–20 minutes so people have time to follow through.
Pro Tip: Keep requests manageable. A quick favor should fit into the time you’ve set aside!
7. Make Someone’s First Week Easier
Remember trying to figure out where everything was when you started?
Invite your team to create a friendly welcome guide for future coworkers. Ask everyone to contribute one thing they wish they’d known in their first week.
Include practical tips such as:
- Where to find frequently used documents.
- Which team channels are helpful to join.
- Who to contact with common questions.
- Where to grab lunch near the office.
- What those mysterious meeting abbreviations mean.
Remote teams can add tips for getting involved in social chats and finding help across time zones.
Pro Tip: Give the guide a home in your onboarding materials so the next new teammate can actually find it!
8. Organize a Team Give-Back Hour
Take the kindness beyond your team!
Contact a local community organization to ask what support would be useful, then arrange an activity during working hours. Your team could sort requested donations, assemble supply kits, or help with an organized neighborhood cleanup.
For distributed teams, look for a remote volunteering opportunity or let people join an activity in their own community.
Share the details ahead of time so everyone knows what to expect.
Pro Tip: Confirm what the organization needs before collecting supplies. A little planning helps make sure your team’s efforts are useful!
9. Share a Little Pick-Me-Up 🎵
Your teammate’s new favorite song might be sitting in your playlist right now.
Start a “For Anyone Who Needs a Smile” thread and invite everyone to share one small recommendation or cheerful find.
Think:
- A song that improves their morning.
- A pet photo with an excellent backstory.
- A comic that made them laugh.
- A simple recipe worth trying.
- A photo from a favorite walking route.
Keep the thread open throughout the day so teammates in different time zones can contribute when it suits them.
Pro Tip: Add a sentence explaining your pick. “This is my dog waiting for his performance review” makes the photo even better.
10. Fix One Small Everyday Frustration
The broken link. The missing instructions. The meeting invite that never explains what to prepare.
Ask your team: “What’s one small thing we could fix to make everyone’s day easier?”
Collect suggestions, choose one manageable improvement, and give someone time to make it happen. You could tidy a shared resource folder, update an outdated guide, or add clear agendas to recurring meetings.
Let the team know what changed and where to find it. Your World Kindness Day activity now has a benefit that lasts beyond November 13!
Pro Tip: Choose something your team can act on and set a clear date for completing it.
Bring a Little More Kindness to Your Workday
A thoughtful message, a helping hand, or a shared laugh can give someone a welcome boost. Choose an activity your team will enjoy and leave room for those small moments to happen!
Ready to get everyone together? Start with CrowdParty’s Random Acts of Kindness Party and give your team a fun way to celebrate kindness at work. 💛
