You found our list of the best Slack channel topic ideas for remote work.
Slack channel ideas are topics for Slack groups. For example, #furry-friends and #gaming-lounge. The purpose of these channels is to encourage interaction and reveal common bonds between remote coworkers.
These spaces are a type of remote employee engagement activity and are similar to virtual water coolers.
This articles includes:
- funny Slack channel names
- Slack channel name ideas
- Slack conversation starters
- Slack channel topics
Here we go!
List of Slack channel ideas
Here is a list of Slack channel name ideas and activities to keep remote workers engaged in virtual offices.
1. #you-are-awesome
#you-are-awesome was one of the original Slack channels at TeamBuilding. This channel offers a space for employees to share peer-to-peer praise. Managers can shed light on team members’ big wins, employees can shout out leaders for being awesome bosses, teammates can thank each other for help, and coworkers can gush about team members’ general amazingness.
This channel is also home to our announcements of staff birthdays and remote work anniversaries.
2. #furry-friends
#furry-friends is pet central on Slack. This channel is the best place for coworkers to share photos and videos of playful pups, cuddly kittens, and other animal companions. Employees can get a steady stream of critter comforts to tide them over between the moments in Zoom meetings when a tail, paw, or snout pops on screen.
Beyond posting their own pets, contributors can also share random animal sightings or photos found online. Cats and dogs tend to be the most common creatures, however submitters are welcome to share photos of any kind of pet or animal, such as snakes, lizards, fish, rodents, birds, horses, wild bears ambling through the backyard, squirrels vandalizing bird feeders, and even the giraffe at the zoo.
For more creature comfort, check out this list of the best office pets and these examples of animals that use teamwork.
3. #its-all-relative
Not only is #its-all-relative one of the punniest Slack channel name ideas, it is also one of the most relatable topics. In this space, coworkers can share photos of parents or kids, or funny quotes and anecdotes about relatives. Since family is a meaningful part of most folks’ lives, this channel gives a glimpse into important facets of non-work life and can help coworkers understand each other much better. Not to mention, family can be a great source of entertainment.
4. #gaming-lounge
#gaming-lounge is a space where teammates can hang out and challenge teammates to games like trivia, tic-tac-toe, and chess. Admins can either install Slack game apps, or facilitate games such as word scrambles, werewolf, or guess the emoji. Another option is to drop links to online multiplayer games that coworkers can join and play together.
Within the channel, teammates can challenge each other randomly by mentioning a colleague. Admins can also host weekly game tournaments where team members can compete during breaks or after hours.
Here are examples of games to play on Slack.
5. #pep-talk
#pep-talk is the ultimate motivation zone. Team members can make announcements about upcoming projects, performances, or life events that they may be nervous about, and peers respond with words of encouragement. Channel members can also head to #pep-talk for cheering up on bad days. Asking advice is another use for the channel. Or, teammates can simply post when they need hyping up or an instant energy boost.
6. #today-i-learned
#today-i-learned is one of the best Slack conversation starters. This channel is a place for coworkers to share fascinating facts, special projects, and random tidbits. Members can show off non-work projects in progress, and recent subjects of study. For example, learning how to fix a car engine, mastering a special effect in photoshop, or visiting a museum and learning a little-known historical snippet. Contributors can even post how-to demonstration videos so that fellow channel members can learn and practice the craft. This channel encourages curiosity and constant learning and makes for fascinating discussion.
7. #window-to-the-world
#window-to-the-world is homebase for travelers, wanderers, globetrotters, and anyone who has an interest in exploring new places. Coworkers can share places they have been or want to go. Posters can name destinations, and other channel members can indicate whether or not they have been or want to go by using emojis. This channel also serves as a way for dispersed team members to learn more about each other’s homes. International teammates can post shots from their homeland or current locale. Members can also start threads with themes like “breakfast,” “the big game,” or “special festivals,” and participants can reply with photos or descriptions of what these experiences are like in their locales. Channel members can also share stories and travel tips.
8. #just-gifs
#just-gifs is self explanatory. Words are banned in this channel. Instead, participants post random funny GIFs, and other channel members can react with more GIFs or with emojis.
Prompts are the exception to the “no words” rule. Channel organizers or channel members can randomly post one-line commands, such as “weekend plans” or “clients who won’t let you end the phone call,” and participants respond with a GIF that fits the theme.
Pro tip: Use an app like Giphy to make it easy to find and post GIFS to threads.
9. #lets-get-physical
#lets-get-physical is a channel that encourages exercise. Remote work can be even more sedentary than traditional office jobs, and this channel urges members to get out and get moving. Participants may post content such as gym selfies, data from running apps, workout challenges, and links to virtual group fitness classes. The channel can also host more low-impact, low time-commitment movement activities such as five minute stretch breaks or ten minute yoga.
Here is a list of team workouts.
10. #random
#random is the ultimate spot for casual work banter. This channel is a catch-all for any non-work topics team members want to share. For example, recent posts from TeamBuilding’s random channel include selfies with water puppets, an anecdote of a teammate calling a scammer who hacked into and ordered from his Chipotle account, and an announcement that the pumpkin spice latte is officially back on the menu at coffeeshops. #random functions as a virtual breakroom where teammates can gather during breaks or downtime and chat.
Pro tip: We recommend automatically inviting new hires to join this channel to foster a more immediate sense of camaraderie.
11. #work-soundtrack
#work-soundtrack is an ongoing work from home mixtape. Team members can post favorite songs and albums, music videos, playlists, and song suggestions to DJ each other’s work days. Admins can also issue themes and challenges, for instance, “rainy day music,” “high energy hits,” and “favorite Christmas carols,” and build a collaborative team playlist out of the thread replies.
12. #weekend-plans
#weekend-plans is a way for virtual teammates to share upcoming or recent adventures. Channel members can share plans for the approaching weekend, or share photos and highlights the following week. To encourage participants to regularly use this channel, admins can post weekly threads of “what are your weekend plans?” on Friday and “what did you do this weekend?” on Monday.
Conversation does not need to be strictly weekend talk, either. Teammates can share holiday plans and random weekday outings. The point of the channel is to give a glimpse into teammates outside-of-work lives, and motivate staff members to get out and about having adventures.
13. #watch-me-do-this
#watch-me-do-this is a place for teammates to share non-work projects and pursuits. This space is a place for shameless self promotion. Channel members can announce coming concerts, peddle their kids’ fundraiser snack sales, and display drawings, for example. This channel provides a way for teammates to learn about each other’s non-work skills and abilities. Channel members can support each other by giving compliments or attending each other’s virtual events. Basically, #watch-me-do-this acts like an ongoing talent show and digital round of applause.
14. #feel-good
#feel-good is an anytime pick-me-up. Here, channel members can share positive, uplifting sentiments, good news, adorable pictures, descriptions of random acts of kindness, compliments, and general warm fuzzies. This channel functions as an instant pick-me-up or mood enhancer for any team member who might be having a rough day or simply appreciates a good serotonin rush.
Check out more employee morale boost ideas.
15. #life-events
#life-events is an announcement channel for non-work milestones. Examples include engagements, births, graduations, pet adoptions, and home buying. However, not every announcement needs to be major or momentous. Channel members might also share about reading an amazing book, taking a vacation, reuniting with an old friend, winning a giveaway, or beating a high score in a video game. #life-events is a way for remote team members to keep tabs on each other’s goings-on, big and small.
16. #close-encounters
#close-encounters is a place for remote coworkers to coordinate and recap real world meetups. One of the downsides of remote work is that dispersed team members rarely get the chance to meet or spend in-person time with co-workers. This channel aims to remedy the lack of face-to-face time by facilitating real life meetups between colleagues.
Channel members can announce plans to visit certain cities and coordinate meetups with nearby coworkers. Examples of outings can include dinners, tours, or coworking days. Post-event, participants can share pictures of the hangout.
Seeing colleagues planning trips and get togethers may inspire other team members to join the fun and arrange their own in person adventures.
17. #comedy-club
#comedy-club is a place where teammates come to laugh together. Channel members can post any content that gets a chuckle, such as funny news headlines, videos, memes, and jokes. This channel can help teammates destress and bond together by laughing together.
Pro tip: Humor can be subjective, and you may want to set ground rules for what kind of language and subject matter is ok to post to avoid offense or potential HR headaches.
For inspiration, here is a collection of team building jokes and a list of icebreaker jokes.
18. #mr-rogers-calls
TeamBuilding has a tradition called Mr Rogers Calls where randomly-matched coworkers meet up for casual video call chats. To facilitate these conversations, participants join the #mr-rogers-calls. Every other week, the Donut app partners up random colleagues and starts a direct message thread between the pairs. From there, participants plan a virtual meeting and enjoy face-to-face time with each other.
Here is a guide to virtual coffee breaks.
19. #bon-appetit
#bon-appetit is the place to be for foodies. In this channel, participants share amazing eats. Submissions may include news of new restaurants or food trends, droolworthy Instagram food finds, pictures of recent home cooked or restaurant meals, and recipes.
The channel can also host events such as virtual lunches or dinners, remote cookoffs, meal challenges, and online group cooking classes.
20. #i-made-a-mistake
Beyond being one of the most funny Slack channel names, #i-made-a-mistake is a way for employees to blow off steam and laugh at themselves. This space is a place for team members to post fails, errors in judgement, misunderstandings, slip-ups, brain blips, and other lighthearted mess ups. Team members can entertain coworkers with these misfortunes. Meanwhile, colleagues can commiserate and assure each other that they are just as imperfect by sharing their own bad luck anecdotes. #i-made-a-mistake normalizes failure and turns blunders into bonding moments.
21. #flashbacks
#flashbacks provides the team with a daily dose of nostalgia. In this channel, teammates can post old photos from decades past. For instance, grade school photos, old prom pics, and regrettable 90’s haircuts. Contributors can also post pop culture references from back in the day, as well as more recent memories of the team’s time together. The flashbacks channel is a haven for things worth remembering and a place for teammates to bond over the good ol’ times.
More Slack channel topics
Slack channels make ideal meeting places for virtual employee clubs. Any user can create a new channel in Slack, meaning that employees can launch clubs based on special interests. Here are a few suggestions of Slack channels and meeting spaces your team may choose to launch.
1. Writers’ workshop
Members can post and respond to writing prompts, and share drafts and snippets for feedback. Writers can also share publication announcements, submission calls, and resources.
2. Plant parents
Channel members can swap caretaking tips and show off their plant setups. vid gardeners and casual houseplant owners alike can mingle and bond over all things green and leafy.
3. Makeup and makeovers
Working from home or not, some folks like to get glam. In this channel, participants can swap makeup tips, host tutorials, and show off fierce looks. Team members can even participate in makeover challenges together.
4. Tarot
Team members can meet up for tarot card readings and other fortune telling fun. Occult experts can teach teammates how to read the cards.
5. Foreign language club
Language learners can meet up and practice conversation skills together, either by typing in the chosen language, or by meeting up on video call to talk face-to-face. Plus, students can share foreign words they love or translations they find funny or interesting.
6. Book nook
Book nook is a prime place for reading recommendations. From this channel, teams can run book clubs by voting on a title of the month and scheduling a meeting to discuss.
7. TV den
This channel is the modern day equivalent of meeting around the water cooler to discuss the latest episode of the hottest TV show. Channel members can share current Netflix binges, discuss theories and opinions about favorite series, and coordinate streaming parties with coworkers.
8. Sports fans
This space is the place to talk about all things athletic. Channel members can boast about team wins, predict playoffs, participate in friendly sports team rivalries with coworkers, and play fantasy sports games. Instant replays and amazing sports clips are recommended.
9. Craft corner
This Slack channel is a place for makers to show off finished crafts and works-in-progress. Members can plan virtual craft nights and share project inspiration.
10. Baking
A place for bakers to show off delectable desserts and share tips and recipes.
11. Holidays
This Slack channel is homebase for the holidays. Members can show off decorations, share plans, dream about delicious eats, and get in the seasonal spirit with coworkers.
12. Organization
A place to swap organization tips and post pictures of bullet journals, cleaned closets, and beautifully-arranged spaces. Masters can share pointers to help more scattered teammates tame messes.
13. Video games
A channel where gamers can meet and coordinate quests, raids, and tournaments. Players can drop links to online multiplayer games, share gamer profiles, and find new teammates.
14. Musican’s Lounge
Musicians and music lovers meet in this Slack space. Members can share invitations to upcoming performances, post videos, and plan Zoom jam sessions.
15. Movies
A place to share reviews, play movie trivia, and plan watching parties. You can also create channels for specific genres, such as horror movies or rom-coms.
16. Geocaching and orienteering
Adventurers can post treasure hunting hauls, quiz each other on geography, and play games like GeoGuessr where participants must locate themselves on a digital map.
17. Great outdoors
A space to share nature photos, hikes,and camping tricks and finds. Members can also plan in-person outside meetups.
18. Digital nomads
A spot for digital nomads to share past, present, and future destinations. Photos are a must, and recommendations are welcome.
19. Birding
Birding is a common hobby among adults. This channel is a place for enthusiast to share news of sightings, swap photos, and maybe even practice bird calls.
20. Fashion
A space to post outfits, share styling tips, and enjoy fashion together.
The potential for online clubs and Slack channels are nearly endless and depend on employee interests. For more possibilities, check out this Wikipedia list of hobbies.
Final Thoughts
Slack channels are a great way to practice ongoing team building and promote bonding among remote teams. In fact, TeamBuilding uses many of the ideas on this list. Slack channels are an easy, inexpensive employee engagement tool. Anyone can create a channel, and you can make dozens.
In virtual offices, these channels function as common spaces and break rooms that foster casual conversation and connection. There are many fun, non-work Slack topics that can help remote teammates relax and build relationships with coworkers.
Next, check out this list of Slack apps and this collection of getting to know you activities.
Angela Robinson