Many employees start their jobs feeling motivated and focused, but with time, stress, long hours, and heavy workloads can wear them down. Burnout sets in, productivity decreases, and job satisfaction fades. This scenario is all too common.
These problems might result in higher turnover rates, absenteeism, and reduced job satisfaction without proper assistance.
The key to preventing this negative cycle is to understand employees' requirements before problems escalate. Workplace wellness surveys are an effective tool for organizations to understand and address employee needs, which creates work environments where everyone thrives.
This blog is your complete guide to the workplace wellness survey, offering 70 essential questions, success stories, and strategies to improve employee well-being.
What is a workplace wellness survey?
A workplace wellness survey is based on a concept encompassing physical, mental, and social aspects of an employee's health. It’s about creating an environment that is both healthier and happier and supports employees in their pursuit of wellness.
The Importance of Employee Wellness
In 2022, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, MD, released the office’s first-ever framework for Workplace Mental Health and Well-Being.
Some of the key findings are:
- 92% of employees believe working for a company that values their emotional and psychological well-being is extremely important.
- 76% of American workers reported experiencing at least one symptom of a mental health issue.
- 84% of respondents reported that their employment conditions had led to at least one mental health issue.
- 81% of workers said they will look for workplaces that promote mental wellness in the future.
Additionally:
- According to Gallup, employees who experience burnout at work "very often" or "always" are 63% more likely to take a sick day.
- According to the World Health Organization, Every year, an estimated 12 billion working days are lost globally due to depression and anxiety, costing the economy $1 trillion in lost productivity.
With wellness surveys, companies can address these issues directly by identifying stressors, promoting work-life balance, and designing programs that cater to employees' needs.
Related Read: Survey Questions for Employee Satisfaction: Boost Engagement Today
Workplace Wellness Success Stories
Some companies have already reaped the benefits of wellness surveys. For example:
Google’s “gPause” Initiative
Google has an internal initiative known as gPause that promotes meditation and mindfulness among employees. This initiative aims to enhance and reduce stress levels and boost employee engagement and team productivity, resulting in 24% increased team collaboration.
Google exemplifies how prioritizing mental health can yield impressive results and form a thriving workplace culture.
Johnson & Johnson’s “Live for Life” Program
Over a decade, Johnson & Johnson invested roughly $ 250 million in mental health programs, decreasing employee absenteeism. Moreover, each dollar spent on wellness programs generates $2.71 in savings on healthcare costs.
Their Live for Life program ensures the health and well-being of employees by providing wellness resources that focus on improving their physical, mental, and emotional health.
The key features of the Live for Life program are :
- Onsite fitness facilities
- Regular health assessment
- Workshops on nutrition
- Counseling on stress management and depression
Workplace Wellness Survey Questions
Workplace wellness depends on employees' well-being and strong corporate culture. Let's discover different categories and questions you can ask.
Workload
- How many hours do you work per week?
- Do you think your workload hinders productivity?
- How often do you experience work-related stress?
- What motivates you to manage your workload efficiently?
- How often do you have to work overtime to meet your work goals?
- Do you agree with the statement, "My workload is manageable ”?
- My workload is fairly distributed compared to my teammates.
- I can complete my work within my standard working hours.
- I am not overwhelmed discussing my workload with my manager.
- Do you have the required tools and resources to manage your workload?
Emotional well-being
- On a scale of 1 to 10, what’s your average stress level at work?
- What are your energy levels at the end of the day?
- What do you struggle with most at work?
- How often do you feel nervous at work?
- As an employee, how would you rate your mental health inside of this place?
- As an employee, how would you rate your mental health outside of this place?
- Do you agree with the following statement, "My job does not negatively impact my mental health.”
- Do you agree with the following statement, "I rarely feel stressed and anxious in my office time?”
- Would you be open to participating in mental wellness programs?
- How often do you experience burnout or emotional exhaustion?
Physical well-being
- How often do you exercise in a week?
- Do you feel any physical discomfort (back pain or eye strain) at work?
- How often do you participate in physical wellness programs like health challenges, fitness classes, or gym memberships?
- Are you comfortable with the ergonomics of your office (desk, chair, monitor brackets, etc.)?
- How many hours of sleep do you usually get?
- How would you rate your physical strength on a scale of 1 to 10?
- Are there any physical health issues affecting your performance?
- Would you be interested in physical wellness programs for employees?
- How often do you feel discomfort and fatigue after your work?
Social Well-being
- Do you agree with the following statement, "My company prioritizes my health and well-being.”
- How satisfied are you with your relationship with your teammates?
- Do you share your personal issues with your colleagues?
- How often do you engage in meaningful conversation with your team?
- How often do you meet your colleagues outside work?
- To what extent do you get support from your teammates in a conflict?
- Can you share a time when you felt supported by your team?
- Do you believe your team works together effectively to achieve common goals?
Work-life balance
- Are you able to maintain a good work-life balance?
- What can we do to improve your work-life balance?
- How often do you miss family gatherings because of work?
- Do you think your working hours are reasonable?
- Suppose you have a family emergency during office time. How confident are you that your manager will let you go?
- Have you ever felt that your work life negatively impacts your personal life?
- How often do you work overtime?
- Would you be interested in programs that encourage work-life balance?
Job satisfaction
- On a scale of 1 to 5, how satisfied are you with your job role?
- How likely would you recommend this company as a good workplace place?
- What do you enjoy most about working here?
- What do you enjoy least about working here?
- What suggestions do you have to improve overall job satisfaction?
Workplace environment
- How likely are you to discuss your mental health with your manager?
- Which additional mental well-being benefits would you like us to offer?
- Do you feel valued and heard in your company?
- Do you feel safe in your work environment?
- How can the company enhance the overall work environment?
- Does the company offer flexible work arrangements (for example, remote work or flexible hours)?
Satisfaction with Workplace Well-Being Programs
- On a scale of 1 to 10, how satisfied are you with the well-being programs offered by the company?
- How often do you participate in well-being programs?
- Do you use well-being resources without fear of being judged or stigmatized?
- What aspects of a well-being program do you find most useful?
- What changes could improve the effectiveness of existing programs?
Company Policies
- On a scale of 1 to 10, how satisfied are you with company policies?
- Do you think that company policies support employee well-being?
- How satisfied are you with the company's paid leave and time-off policies?
- Are workplace policies communicated effectively?
Leadership Effectiveness
- Do you trust your leadership to make decisions about employee well-being?
- Do you feel valued and supported by your manager?
- How often does leadership seek feedback from employees?
- How frequently does management ask employees for their opinions?
- How would you rate the effectiveness of your manager in guidance and support?
Wellness Ideas to Keep Your Workforce Healthy, Happy, and Thriving
A workforce that prioritizes well-being fosters a positive culture, and it’s an investment that pays off in terms of increased productivity, talent retention, and employee satisfaction.
Following are some wellness initiatives your company should take for the well-being of the workforce:
Fitness Programs
Promote physical well-being by offering gym memberships, in-office workout sessions, set-standing desks, and incorporating fitness challenges in the company.
Healthy Lunches and Snacks
Healthier employees miss fewer days and have lower health costs. Offer nutritious snacks and healthy eating resources. Start challenges such as staying hydrated, the 30-Day Fresh Eating Challenge, Meatless Mondays and Wellness Wednesdays, and theme-based eating week.
Mental health programs
Include mental health coverage in your health coverage plan, provide access to counseling stress management workshops, and establish an employee assistance program to support workplace mental health.
Naps and Rest
Short power naps—just 15 to 30 minutes in workplaces can improve employees' creativity, problem-solving abilities, and overall well-being, promote a culture of taking short rest breaks, and create a quiet rest zone area in offices.
Flexible Work Arrangements
Promote well-being through flexible work arrangements, which allow options such as remote work, telecommuting, compressed work weeks, and part-time work. A well-executed flexible work structure improves employees' physiological and physical health, leading to job satisfaction
Related read: Boost Productivity with an Employee Satisfaction Survey
Create Your Workplace Wellness Survey with Theysaid
Creating a successful wellness survey is simpler than you think, especially when you use the right tool. Follow these steps to get started:
Define your objectives: Decide what to measure (e.g., stress levels, work-life balance, satisfaction with wellness programs).
Sign up or log in: Visit TheySaid.io and create an account or log in to access the dashboard.
Generate Your Survey with AI: Enter the URL, and Theysaid will automatically scan your company details.
Craft your questions: AI generates well-designed, professional surveys with a single click.
Choose Your Distribution Method: Share via email, Slack, in-app chat, or QR codes. Use TheySaid’s automated reminders to increase response rates.
AI-Powered Employee Responses: TheySaid turns surveys into conversational experiences, with interactive AI diving deeper into answers.
Analyze the results: Use AI analytics to identify trends and actionable insights to improve workplace wellness programs.
TheySaid enables businesses to design highly personalized, engaging surveys that deliver real-time insights about workplace wellness. Forget about lengthy, tedious, and shallow surveys. TheySaid leverages artificial intelligence to transform feedback into meaningful conversations that result in a genuine change in your company.
If you want to improve employee well-being, boost satisfaction, and ensure your wellness programs are effective, an AI-powered survey tool like TheySaid is the key to your success.
FAQs
What are the benefits of conducting a workplace wellness survey?
Workplace wellness surveys help you understand employees' well-being, increase employee engagement and job satisfaction, and help companies identify the wellness needs of their workers.
What questions should be included in an employee wellness survey?
Include questions that cover aspects such as work-life balance, mental health, physical health, emotional health, job satisfaction, stress levels, and overall well-being.
What tools can help create effective employee wellness surveys?
AI-powered tools like TheySaid simplify survey creation, distribution, and analysis, making it easier to gather meaningful feedback.
How often should I conduct a workplace wellness survey?
Regular surveys (quarterly or bi-annually) help ensure you are continually meeting the needs of your employees and improving workplace wellness programs.
