Have you ever thought about what’s the real productivity killer in a workplace? It's not bad coffee or office gossip. It’s not even endless meetings. It’s disengagement
When employees do not feel heard or valued, they start feeling disengaged, leading to a risk of losing top talent and productivity. Hence, the secret to having a happy and productive workplace is not just high salaries or fancy perks but how employees actually feel. The best way to figure it out is through employee engagement surveys.
This blog is your guide for employee engagement surveys, including key questions, engagement levels, and selecting the right tool, like TheySaid.
What is Employee Engagement?
Employee engagement is a connection that an employee has with their workplace. It is more than just showing up daily. It’s about being invested in what they are doing, feeling heard, and helping organizations achieve their goals.
An employee engagement survey is a tool used to measure how motivated and engaged employees are to do their best in the company. These surveys help uncover pain points growth opportunities, and help build a desirable workplace.
How Starbucks And Microsoft Use Employee Engagement To Reduce Turnover
Starbucks is not just renowned for its excellent coffee, but it also leads the industry in employee engagement. With a turnover rate of just 20% of the industry average, the company saves millions, considering the $2,004 cost of replacing an hourly team member. What’s their secret? Hearing what their employees say about them and then acting upon it.
Starbucks established a $35 million Leadership Lab in 2012, where team managers discussed workplace issues. One of the key findings was that 30%of workers wanted their dress code to be more flexible. Rather than disregarding this, Starbucks implemented the "Look Book," allowing self-expression while maintaining rules. By prioritizing employee input, Starbucks lowered the turnover rate and strengthened its workplace culture.
Microsoft uses AI to analyze employee engagement and employee feedback data. Microsoft has increased overall satisfaction among workers by 15% through the implementation of targeted changes made possible by AI-driven insights. Higher retention rates and a more active workforce are direct results of these efforts.
What is the purpose of an employee engagement survey?
Employee engagement surveys provide numbers and insights about employees' motivation, commitment to their jobs, and willingness to go the extra mile for their company. Employees with high engagement have a positive attitude and look forward to improving work operations and demonstrating leadership.
According to the Gallup State of the Global Workplace 2024 report, companies with highly engaged employees have a 23% boost in profitability. Following are the main reasons you should conduct employee engagement surveys
Boost motivation & productivity
Employee engagement surveys reveal what employees think about their company that they won’t say out loud. Sending out these surveys frequently shows them that you care about their opinions and makes them stay highly motivated, engaged, and productive to drive better results.
Show employees they matter
Providing employees with a safe platform to express their concerns, opinions, and suggestions creates a culture of transparency. Employees who feel appreciated are more open to communication and constructive criticism and build a happier workplace culture.
Lower turnover = Save big $$$
Hiring new people is expensive and time-consuming. Highly engaged employees mean fewer people leaving the company, which means big savings and a stronger and more experienced workforce.
Higher employee retention rate
Employee engagement surveys reveal key drivers of retention and identify dissatisfied employees. Once you know about the employees who want to leave the company, you can better align your strategies, whether it’s through better incentives, team-building exercises, or improved workplace policies to keep them engaged.
Create a Thriving Company Culture
A thriving company culture is formed by listening and adapting. Employee engagement survey feedback will help you identify areas needing improvement and contribute to a healthier work environment where employees feel good and do their best.
What are the Levels of Employee Engagement?
Employee Engagement Survey Topics & Questions
A well-designed employee engagement survey should cover various topics like teamwork, job satisfaction, workplace well-being, career opportunities, and many more. Use these employee engagement survey example questions to create effective surveys.
Growth & Career Opportunities
- Are there enough opportunities for you in our company to grow?
- Do you get supported in your career goals?
- I have full access to training programs that support my professional growth.
Teamwork & Collaboration
- My teammates are fully supportive and are ready to help whenever I need it.
- List any barriers that prevent effective teamwork in the company.
- Do you feel comfortable collaborating with other departments?
Workplace Communication
- How would you rate the communication between your team and manager?
- Team goals are clearly defined by leadership.
- Is your voice heard when you share feedback or suggestions?
Access to Tools & Resources
- Do you have access to the necessary tools and technology to do your job?
- I rarely face challenges due to a lack of proper tools or resources at work.
- Is there anything you need that would make your job easier?
Salary & Benefits Satisfaction
- How satisfied are you with your salary on a scale of 1 -10?
- Do you feel like your performance is fully rewarded?
- What additional benefits can enhance your work experience?
Managerial Support
- I receive clear expectations and direction from my manager.
- Do you reach out to your manager freely when you need help?
- My manager actively helps me grow and develop in my career.
Diversity & Inclusivity
- Are all employees treated fairly, regardless of background?
- Have you witnessed or experienced any workplace bias?
- Does the company respect all employees?
Workplace Safety & Well-being
- Do you participate in the company’s wellbeing programs?
- Are safety policies clear and well-enforced in the company?
- I feel comfortable discussing workplace issues with the HR department.
Workload & Work-Life Balance
- I have a manageable workload.
- Does the company support work-life balance?
- What changes would improve your work-life balance?
Related Read: Employee Engagement Survey Questions to Strengthen Your Team
The Red Flag Questions You Should Avoid Asking in Employee Engagement Surveys
The purpose of employee engagement surveys is to gain valuable feedback that can be used to improve workplace culture. Asking too direct, demanding, or biased questions can lead to dishonest answers and inaccurate data. Here are some question examples that you should avoid:
- Do you like your job? (Too vague)
- Are you going to leave the company? (Very direct)
- Do you have personal issues affecting your work? (Too intrusive)
- Do you think the company’s management should do a better job? (Too accusatory)
- Do you feel you work harder than your colleagues? (Creates division)
- How would you fix company problems? (Very demanding)
- Do you agree that our company is the best place to work? (Too biased)
Employee Engagement Survey Checklist
An employee engagement survey is about getting and analyzing employee feedback, identifying improvement areas, and crafting strategies that bring positive changes in a company. We have a checklist for you to cover all aspects:
Define Your Survey Goals
Every company has a different goal, and defining your goal clearly before designing an employee engagement survey is the first practical step. For example, if you want to boost productivity, your survey should be focused on questions about how employees feel about their workload, available resources to them, and collaboration within the department and in across departments. By defining clear goals, we will have data that will lead to real improvements.
Create Balanced & Clear Questions
The way you phrase your survey questions makes all the difference. Asking leading, confusing, too direct questions can result in unreliable data, or employees won’t take these surveys seriously. Make your questions clear and unbiased, so employees won’t hesitate to give honest answers.
Cover Key Engagement Areas
Design a well-rounded survey that covers almost all the aspects of employee experience in the company. A Comprehensive survey includes career development, leadership support, and workplace culture questions.
Analyze Your Data Thoroughly
Ensure that all of your survey data is in one place, ready for analysis. To find outliers, trends, and patterns, use statistical tools. Finalize essential measures such as eNPS (Employee Net Promoter Score) and look for reoccurring patterns.
Break It Down by Employee Segments
Don’t just look at overall results segment responses by department, role, or tenure to spot variations in engagement levels. This helps pinpoint specific areas that need attention rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach.
Turn Insights into Action
Without action, data is nothing. Use your research to create specific strategies that deal with important problems. Consider updating your appreciation programs or modifying rewards in response to employee feedback.
Share the Results Transparently
Employees want to know their voices matter. Summarize key findings, highlight action points, and communicate next steps. A transparent approach builds trust and reassures employees that their input drives real change.
Related Read: Best Practices for Employee Engagement Surveys That Drive Real Change
How To Create Employee Engagement Surveys With Theysaid
To create surveys using TheySaid, follow these steps:
- Sign In: Visit https://theysaid.io and log in to your account.
- Create a New Survey: Click on the Create Survey button. Choose the type of survey you want to create (e.g., AI Survey, AI Interview, Pulse Survey, etc.).
- Select AI Survey Setup: Use AI to generate employee engagement questions automatically according to your goals .
- Customize Your Survey: Add specific employee engagement questions such as workload, related, workplace communication, job satisfaction, available resources, etc.
- Distribute Your Survey: Share your survey through various channels (e.g., email, Slack, QR codes, in-app chats).
- Engage Participants: Allow employees to interact with AI while completing the survey, leading to richer feedback insights.
- Analyze and Act: Use TheySaid’s analytics to summarize trends and generate actionable insights.
FAQs
What is an employee engagement survey?
Employee engagement surveys are designed to measure how motivated and engaged your employees are, their attitude towards their work, and workplace culture.
How often should companies conduct employee engagement surveys?
Companies should conduct annual surveys, with additional pulse surveys every quarter, to track ongoing improvements.
What are common mistakes to avoid in employee engagement surveys?
Following are some common mistakes to avoid in employee engagement surveys:
- Asking misleading and biased questions
- Ignoring survey results
- Not ensuring anonymity
- Using unclear or vague wording
- Making the survey too long
What are some topics to cover in an employee engagement survey?
Here are some key topics to cover in employee engagement surveys:
- Job Satisfaction & Motivation
- Work-life balance
- Career Growth & Development
- Employee Well-Being
- Career Growth & Development
