Whether your organization is hybrid, fully remote, or works in an office, an intranet serves as an online space where staff can interact with each other and with the organization. The intranet should be more than a place to go for information – it can be a powerful tool to promote a sense of community among staff members and encourage employee engagement. Here are ten tips for using your organizational intranet to build community and connections among staff, while also fostering employee engagement.
10 Tips for Using Your Intranet to Build Community & Enhance Employee Engagement
- Bulletin Boards
Create designated spaces on the intranet for staff to use as bulletin boards. Set up areas for giveaways, items for sale, and discussion boards—such as requests for local advice (“Any recommendations for an after-school math tutor near our headquarters?”) or staff activities (“Join our lunchtime walking group – we meet at the front desk on Monday-Wednesday-Friday at noon”).
Especially in larger organizations with frequent internal transfers, localized spaces (“Welcome to Raleigh/Durham”) can help crowdsource moving tips, restaurant suggestions, and more. These staff-led initiatives foster a sense of community. - Staff Profiles & Pictures
Encourage staff to update their profiles, including personal photos.
Let employees select their own profile picture rather than defaulting only to their badge photo—giving staff a simple, human way to present themselves. Adding a profile photo helps staff connect personally, builds rapport, and allows new hires to put faces to names, especially in distributed teams. - Welcome New Employees
Use the intranet to welcome new staff.
Publishing news posts when a new hire starts lets existing team members learn about their background and role, and offer welcome messages—even virtually. Encourage new hires to share a photo for inclusion. - Pet of the Month
Invite staff to post photos of their pets.
Pets humanize us and provide a glimpse of employees’ lives outside of work, helping colleagues bond. This is especially engaging for remote staff, where pets often make an appearance on screen. - Virtual Speakers
Host internal or external speakers on the intranet to provide learning or highlight staff projects.
Virtual knowledge sharing sessions are accessible to everyone and recognize contributions across the organization. Q&A features help foster cross-departmental relationships and knowledge sharing. - Employee Polls
Solicit staff input through simple intranet polls—covering both serious topics (e.g., preferred benefits) and lighter ones (e.g., favorite Muppet).
Polling engages staff in decision-making and sparks informal community conversations. - Suggestion Box
Set up an online suggestion box to encourage feedback about HR, cross-departmental initiatives, DEI, or any topic leadership wants input on.
Providing a structured way for staff to share ideas builds trust and makes everyone feel part of shaping organizational culture. - Fun Facts About…
Share bite-sized facts about staff or departments (e.g., “Fun Facts about Finance…”).
Short games, trivia, or featured profiles help humanize leadership, make connections easier, and let colleagues discover common interests. - Volunteer Events & Teams
Highlight volunteer events and group activities via the intranet.
Announcement tools, countdown timers, team spaces, and social networking features can all support participation and foster a sense of shared mission beyond day-to-day work. - Physical Office (or Meeting Location) Amenities
Use the intranet to spotlight tips about local restaurants, transport, things to do near the office, or logistics for retreats and events.
Advance information and local guides help staff feel connected to physical locations, whether for in-person work or periodic gatherings.
These are just a few suggestions to help you use your intranet to strengthen community and boost employee engagement. Looking for more ideas? This blog post is part of the new FireOak series: Building and Maintaining a Modern Intranet.
