Employee engagement is no longer a nice-to-have — it's mission-critical. At the heart of every thriving workplace lies a space where employees feel heard, connected, and empowered. 

That's why the Employee Engagement Forum is more relevant than ever in 2026.

In fact, recent data shows that in the UK, about 65% of employees now say they feel engaged with their company — a signal that organizations taking engagement seriously are already gaining an advantage. 

But with that comes responsibility. 

Forums, feedback systems, internal platforms — they only work if clear guidelines exist. 

That's why this updated guide, "Employee Engagement Forum & Employee Forum Guidelines – UPDATED 2026," walks you through not just why forums matter, but how to run them effectively. 

From setting ground rules to encouraging participation, we've got all the steps you'll need.

Ready? 

Let's dive in. 

What is an Employee Engagement Forum – UPDATED 2025

The concept of an employee engagement forum is a team discussion where all the employees involved in a particular project can gather to share their ideas and get some support from other employees. 

This is usually done through a "working group" and is held once or twice per year at each company. 

This meeting intends to provide support for the team, find out any problem areas that need attention, and encourage further engagement between them. 

The significant advantage of such meetings is that everyone in the organization learns how to contribute to the business and how the other team members are benefiting from their work.

An employee engagement forum allows those who can become future leaders to speak to current staff, present their ideas, and get feedback from others. 

This feedback often comes as a seminar or workshop. These give you a chance to be grilled by other staff while getting some vital feedback on your career and business. This is valuable as it allows you to step back and re-evaluate where you are at. It can also let you find out where the weaknesses are in your career to develop strategies to strengthen and move on.

So, why is an employee forum used in the workplace? 

This type of platform is so widely used in the workplace because it provides support, advice, and training to all employees in an organization.

The staff will feel that they have a place within the organization and value. All this means that there is a more significant commitment to quality work amongst employees. 

The Different Types of Employee Engagement Forum Examples

In today's modern workplace, employee engagement isn't just about surveys or one-off meetings — it's about creating consistent opportunities for employees to be heard. That's where employee forums in the workplace come in. 

These structured platforms encourage open dialogue, strengthen trust, and help leadership stay connected to the people who drive the business forward.

Below are some of the most effective types of employee engagement forum examples your organization can implement: 

1. Open Discussion Forums

Open discussion forums give every employee a voice. These company-wide sessions allow people to raise ideas, challenges, or concerns directly with management in an open, respectful environment.

• Best for: Large organizations looking to promote transparency, inclusivity, and real-time feedback.
• Key Benefit: Builds trust by showing that leadership listens and acts on employee input.

2. Department or Team Forums

These smaller, focused meetings are designed for departments or teams to discuss local engagement topics, workflow improvements, and morale. Managers can use them to identify pain points and implement quick wins that make day-to-day work smoother.

• Best for: Teams that want to strengthen collaboration and address engagement challenges specific to their area.
• Key Benefit: Improves team alignment and communication at the grassroots level.

3. Innovation & Idea-Sharing Forums

An idea-sharing forum invites creativity and participation. Employees can submit ideas, vote on suggestions, and collaborate on innovative projects that move the company forward.

• Best for: Organizations that want to build a culture of innovation and employee ownership.
• Key Benefit: Empowers employees to actively shape the company's future.

4. Virtual Employee Engagement Forums

For remote or hybrid teams, digital employee forums in the workplace — such as those built into AgilityPortal — provide a centralized online space for communication. Employees can post suggestions, join discussions, and share feedback from anywhere.

• Best for: Global or hybrid organizations that need ongoing, two-way communication across locations.
• Key Benefit: Keeps dispersed teams engaged, connected, and aligned.

5. Leadership Q&A or "Ask Me Anything" Forums

These sessions bring leaders closer to their teams by providing a transparent channel for open conversation. Employees can ask questions about company strategy, upcoming changes, or leadership decisions in real time.

• Best for: Companies that value open leadership and authenticity.
• Key Benefit: Builds trust, breaks down hierarchy barriers, and boosts engagement.

6. Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Forums

DEI forums create a safe and inclusive environment where employees can discuss diversity-related topics, share experiences, and propose initiatives that promote belonging and representation.

• Best for: Organizations committed to fostering equality and inclusion.
• Key Benefit: Strengthens culture by encouraging empathy, awareness, and belonging.

7. Employee Wellbeing & Recognition Forums

These forums focus on employee wellness, recognition, and morale. They can include topics like mental health, work-life balance, and shoutouts for employee achievements.

• Best for: Organizations focused on retention, happiness, and overall engagement.
• Key Benefit: Boosts morale, reduces burnout, and reinforces a culture of appreciation.

What Are Some Creative Employee Forum Ideas to Boost Engagement in the Workplace?

Creating an engaging Employee Engagement Forum isn't just about setting up a meeting — it's about designing meaningful experiences that spark collaboration, connection, and creativity. 

The best employee forums in the workplace bring people together to share ideas, celebrate wins, and solve real challenges that impact company culture.

Here are some creative employee forum ideas to boost engagement and participation across your organization: 

1. "Voice of the Employee" Open Forums

Give employees a dedicated space to share honest feedback, raise challenges, and propose improvements directly to leadership — that's the true employee forum meaning in any forward-thinking organization. 

These employee forums in the workplace go beyond routine meetings; they're designed to amplify the employee voice and ensure every team member has an opportunity to influence the decisions that shape company culture, communication, and growth.

To keep things engaging, rotate moderators from different departments so each discussion brings diverse perspectives and fresh ideas. 

This prevents groupthink and ensures all employees — regardless of level or department — feel included and represented. When employees know their opinions matter, they become more motivated, proactive, and connected to the organization's goals.

For an added boost, mix in fun employee engagement activities in-office to make the sessions more interactive.

Try hosting:

• Idea Lightning Rounds - Employees share one improvement idea in 60 seconds.
• Innovation Fridays - Teams brainstorm creative solutions to ongoing challenges.
• Recognition Moments - Quick shoutouts to team members who went above and beyond that week.
  These lighthearted moments make your employee forums more enjoyable and reduce the "meeting fatigue" that often limits participation.

Examples of employee voice examples that can come out of these forums include:

• "We need more flexible meeting room options for hybrid teams."
• "Our internal communication platform could use topic-based chat groups."
• "Let's introduce a peer-recognition wall to highlight team achievements."
• "Could we offer short, on-site learning sessions for new tools or processes?"

These ideas, though small, often lead to meaningful changes that improve both employee satisfaction and organizational performance.

Ultimately, the goal of these employee forums in the workplace is to create a continuous feedback loop — where employees feel heard, ideas turn into action, and leaders gain real insights into how to improve the workplace experience.

• Why it works: Builds transparency, strengthens trust, and demonstrates that leadership genuinely values employee input.
• Tip: Use AgilityPortal's Employee Engagement Forum feature to capture feedback, run surveys, and collect ideas anonymously — giving everyone a safe, structured way to express their voice and drive meaningful improvement.

2. Recognition & Celebration Forums

Turn your employee forums in the workplace into more than just discussions — make them a place that celebrates people as much as progress. 

With modern cloud-based software, you can easily integrate employee recognition tools into your engagement forums, creating an environment where appreciation becomes part of everyday communication.

Dedicate a few minutes of each forum to recognize milestones, birthdays, promotions, and major achievements. With employee recognition software for small business, even growing teams can spotlight wins in real time — from peer-to-peer shoutouts and "thank you" badges to digital leaderboards that highlight top contributors. 

These cloud-based solutions make recognition seamless and visible to everyone, whether they're in-office or working remotely.

By combining your Employee Engagement Forum with recognition features, you empower teams to celebrate each other's efforts, strengthen cross-departmental connections, and keep motivation high.

• Why it works: Encourages consistent appreciation, boosts morale, and reinforces a culture of recognition and teamwork — all while keeping everything organized and accessible in the cloud.

3. Innovation Challenge Sessions

Encourage creativity by turning your forum into a brainstorming hub. Invite employees to pitch innovative ideas or solutions to company challenges. 

Allow participants to vote for their favorites, and reward the best ideas with recognition or small incentives.

• Why it works: Promotes ownership and problem-solving across all levels of the business.
• Bonus: AgilityPortal's collaboration tools make it easy to run innovation campaigns virtually across global teams.

4. Knowledge-Sharing & Learning Forums

Empower employees to share their expertise. These forums can feature short "lightning talks," skill demonstrations, or discussions about best practices. Employees can volunteer to teach something new — from leadership insights to workflow hacks.

• Why it works: Fosters peer-to-peer learning and supports professional growth within the organization.

5. Leadership "Ask Me Anything" (AMA) Sessions

Create a transparent environment where employees can ask executives candid questions about company direction, leadership decisions, or upcoming changes. Keep it conversational and open — not a scripted PR moment.

• Why it works: Builds trust, humanizes leadership, and bridges the communication gap between teams and management.

6. Diversity, Inclusion & Culture Conversations

Host regular forums that highlight voices from diverse backgrounds and celebrate your company's unique culture. Include panel discussions, storytelling sessions, or open Q&As around inclusivity and belonging.

• Why it works: Encourages empathy, awareness, and ensures every voice in the organization feels represented.

7. Health, Wellness & Work-Life Balance Forums

Use these sessions to talk about wellbeing — from mental health to hybrid work balance. 

Invite guest speakers or wellness coaches to guide conversations and share actionable tips.Reinforces that your organization values employee wellbeing as a key part of performance and engagement.

The most effective employee forums in the workplace combine open communication with creativity and purpose. 

Whether it's celebrating wins, solving challenges, or strengthening inclusivity, these forums help shape a culture where every employee feels connected and heard.

Employee Forum Guidelines - What do you want from your Employee Relation Forums?

There are many employee relations forums on the Internet; however, how can you know the good ones and the not-so-good ones? 

First, you want a forum where people feel comfortable expressing their opinions - this is very important. 

Second, you want a forum where employees and management can learn many things without fear of reprimanding. 

The last thing you want from employee relations forums is for the employee to be embarrassed because they were unaware of some rules of conduct; here, the forum should have broad employment rules, which will make the workplace much safer for everyone.

Employee relations forums must have open discussions. 

This can only be guaranteed if the administrator can ban people who are being abusive or if there is no one to moderate the discussions. 

Employee relations forums should allow people to post their resumes and discuss the applications if they are looking for a job. The right forum must have regular discussions about the latest happenings in the company, and this way, people will be informed about any developments within the company. If there are regularly posting their resumes on the forum, the company is doing something right.

Another thing that employee relations forums should be able to do is to provide answers to questions commonly asked by employers and employees. 

This will ensure that the company does not have any problems with hiring new people. The right forum should also answer all the questions related to the company and its activities. 

Finally, the right employee engagement forum should help improve the company's overall productivity. 

Hopefully, after reading through these employee relations forum criteria, you will understand the difference between a bad and a good one. If you use an employee relations forum for your company, make sure that it will be a good one.

Benefits of Employee engagement forums

One benefit of employee engagement forums is that they can be a powerful tool to improve company-wide morale. Many people often underestimate just how much their opinions and interactions can affect a company's bottom line. 

In particular, employees who feel valued and appreciated by their employer are likely to remain engaged and stay with the company for more extended periods. Thus, many executives believe that employee relations training programs can directly affect their bottom line.

Engagement is a concept that has been studied over the years. The results show it has a strong correlation with company profitability. This is mostly because engagement leads to increased productivity and improves employee relations. 

It encourages employees to grow and develop professionally and offers them meaningful work and social opportunities. Workers engaged in their jobs are much more likely to show up for work each day. Besides, high levels of employee participation in company events and recreational activities boost morale as well.

Another benefit of employee engagement forums is that they provide an environment where questions can be answered freely. When people feel comfortable asking questions about interesting topics or voice their opinions, they are more likely to do so. 

They are also more likely to reach out for help if they need it. Finally, when people are allowed to express their opinions or concerns in an open forum, they are more likely to engage in thoughtful conversations and form relationships with coworkers.

The benefits of employee engagement forums can be seen throughout the employment landscape. For example, when businesses develop formal complaint handling procedures, employee satisfaction increases like those found in many employment practice codes. Employees who feel respected and appreciated in their workplaces are more likely to reach out for help when they need it, such as if they become injured at work. 

Likewise, healthy competition among employees encourages productivity growth. In the long term, healthy competition between employees can even reduce the tendency toward absenteeism or tardiness. 

These positive outcomes lead to overall improvements in the level of productivity and profitability of a company.

One of the most important benefits of employee engagement forums is that they encourage a healthy work culture. An employee-centric culture fosters workplace communication and promotes healthy interaction. 

This encourages people to openly express themselves and brings them into an active role in its success.

Finally, another significant benefit of employee interaction is that it helps build employee loyalty, which is especially important for smaller companies where conflicts may occur over the territory or between workers. When people feel valued by a company, their willingness to give back will be tremendous. 

Giving back includes helping your employees find gainful employment elsewhere and bringing them up to date on your company's history and mission. 

By putting people in the position of being a potential employer, you're also putting them in place to benefit the business. That's something that no amount of money or incentive can buy.

Employee Forum Guidelines - How to create effective Employee Engagement Forums?

As an organization grows, the need to create employee engagement forums to increase engagement and strengthen ties between employees is becoming more critical. 

Alright forum should serve many purposes: It should foster communication, provide information to employees about their department or division, allow for open dialogue and provide an opportunity for people to share ideas and experiences. To accomplish these goals, it should focus on many topics and themes. 

How do you create an employee engagement forum that will achieve the above goals? What should the content be?

The first step is to identify the purpose of the forum. What are the objectives of the organization? What is the employee's goal for being engaged? Who should attend? What are the concerns and issues facing employees in your organization?

The next step is to select a topic or theme. You do not want to choose a topic that is too general. It may not provide enough information for those who are new to the organization. Still, if it is well-chosen and related to employees' essential issues, they will probably read it. Select a topic based on what is vital to current and future employees. 

For example, if your organization sells a particular product, create an employee engagement forum on the kinds of products in demand.

Once you have selected a topic, create a forum sign-up sheet. Ensure that the sign-up sheet identifies the forum, the administrator's name and the unsubscribe link. 

Ensure that you also include a statement that states that anyone who wishes to participate may do so without limitation. Have a notification that new posts will appear in a newsletter so that employees who check in the know when to return for continuing education.

Next, post the duration and frequency of the forum. If employees are not comfortable posting on their own, consider creating a separate employee engagement group. 

A weekly meeting is usually the most successful type of forum, especially if employees feel as though there is some ongoing conflict within the company over the direction. Some companies have quarterly meetings, which can be very productive since everyone can get together for a few hours to share some information about the company and discuss upcoming issues. 

This kind of forum is beneficial for those whose skills and talents are in areas not related to the business.

The next steps on how to create effective employee engagement forums? If employees have a problem or concern, they usually want to talk about it. 

Consider using audio or video tools to document the conversation. Having a recording of the dialogue makes it easier to identify gaps in understanding and share the solution with the entire workforce.

Communicating Outcomes of Employee Engagement Forums

Communicating Outcomes of Employee Engagement is one of the hottest topics in labour relations management today. 

There are many reasons behind this. One, we all need to remember that employee engagement is about much more than statistics. It's about people. The topic is actually about communicating what is good for the company and its employees.

As we enter the summer months, there will be a renewed focus on employee satisfaction. This comes as no surprise because summer represents the off-season for most companies. 

Ex-President Obama was once again looking to make it a priority in his second term to improve the economy & now Joe Biden is following the map. He has emphasized that an improved economy means better employment, which means more income and sales. For this to occur, though, the economy must first be healthy.

Now that we understand the importance of workforce communication outcomes, how do you ensure the results are as good as they could be? The answer is to ensure that workplace communication is at its best. 

This can be accomplished by understanding who you're trying to reach with your communications efforts. Are you looking to communicate to the entire company, or are you working with the individuals in the departmental area most interested in knowing their outcomes? Once you understand who you are trying to reach, you can then take the proper steps to achieve your desired results.

Are you working on improving yourself through internal training, providing periodic performance appraisals, offering bonuses or incentives for work well done, or developing systems to help employees give feedback on how they are doing? 

If you are looking to improve internal training, then you must make sure that the input you are gathering from your people is a positive reflection of their experience on the job. This is not a simple thing to do. Agree from the top down.

Employee engagement forums also allow you to gather information from your employees on what motivates them. Without a solid understanding of this, there is no way to develop employee motivation. 

Many of the questions that arise in these forums can lead to new goals or initiatives. For example, if you ask employees for their input regarding their job experiences, they may identify a particular issue or concern. Asking the same questions of a group of employees following an event or during breakneck productivity can cause a wealth of knowledge on work/life balance and time management.

The most effective engagement forums often include the use of case studies. This allows the leaders to share stories of success and failure. They can explain what worked and what did not. If you want to get real-life results from your people's efforts, you keep that in mind.

There is a new trend emerging in employee engagement forums - employee development. This is a way to get real-life training from industry experts on implementing real-world strategies into your workplace. 

By creating an environment where people can discuss successes and failures and successes of other employees, you reinforce a good work culture. Employees will become excited about learning what others have done and what strategies have been used in the past.

This is not about saying, "I did it!" It's about recognizing that sometimes things just take a little extra time. This is especially true in workplaces, where the pace of change is faster than is comfortable for everyone. 

Realizing the outcomes of individual efforts and fostering an environment for ongoing dialogue can go a long way towards ensuring that everyone has a bright and satisfying future.