29 questions to ask your employees
Surveys can be a helpful tool to monitor engagement, morale and productivity, but where do you start? Consider these queries to gather valuable insights.
Editor’s note: We are re-running the top stories of 2020 as part of our year-end countdown.
When conducting employee surveys, you should gather as much honest feedback as possible.
However, you don’t want to overwhelm workers with a barrage of burdensome or extraneous questions. It requires a delicate balance to procure the most substantive insights.
If you’re not sure where to start, here are 29 questions to consider using in your next workplace survey.
Questions about culture
These questions explore how employees mesh with the organization’s vision, mission and values, as well as what they think about the company’s commitment to ethics and social responsibility.
- Are you inspired by the purpose and mission of your organization?
- Are your organization’s values aligned with the values that you consider important in your life?
- On a scale from 0–10, how likely are you to recommend your organization as a good place to work?
- Do you feel that your organization protects its employees from discrimination?
Questions about the work environment
Wellness and comfort at work play an important role in employee productivity and engagement. These questions shed light on how your company can provide a more agreeable atmosphere.
- Is your environment free of distractions when you need peace and quiet?
- Are you satisfied with the level of comfort in your physical workplace?
- Do you have access to the material resources you need to do your work properly (equipment, supplies, etc.)?
- Do you feel that your work environment reflects the organizational culture?
Questions about recognition
Do your employees feel valued, appreciated, heard and respected? Ask these questions to find out.
- Are you happy with the amount of recognition you receive from your manager?
- Do you feel your organization sufficiently celebrates accomplishments and milestones?
- Do you feel that recognition is meaningful when you receive it?
Generic, bland recognition often falls flat. When giving recognition or rewards, make them specific, personal and thoughtful.
Questions about feedback
Employees crave feedback, guidance and clear instructions. It’s also essential to make sure workers feel that their opinions and suggestions are valued.
- Do you feel that your manager cares about your feedback?
- Do you feel that you can share your honest thoughts with your manager?
- Does your organization encourage you to give your opinion?
Questions about satisfaction
How do workers feel about their compensation and benefits? Are they happy with their respective roles and overall work environment? Are expectations and objectives clear? Ask questions that shed light on these issues.
- Do you have the flexibility to take time off when you need to?
- Do you feel that you maintain a healthy balance between work and your personal life?
- Do you feel that your work contributes to the goals of your organization?
- Are your responsibilities and objectives clear?
Questions about personal growth
Employers that provide opportunities for skills development and career advancement stand a better chance of retaining top talent. Surveys should cover that crucial topic.
- Do you have the opportunity to grow within your organization?
- How would you rate the way your organization makes use of your strengths?
- Do you have the opportunity to improve your skills?
- Do you have enough freedom to decide how you do your work?
Questions about manager relationships
Employees leave managers—not companies—right? Use surveys as a means to monitor managerial sentiment.
- How would you describe your relationship with your manager?
- Do you trust your manager?
- Is your manager transparent and honest with you and your team?
Questions about relationships with colleagues
Employees who have a close friend at work are much more likely to stick around. These questions can shed light on the emotional well-being of your workforce.
- Can you count on your peers when you need help?
- Do you and your peers collaborate well?
- Do you have a colleague that you also consider a friend?
- Do your peers welcome opinions that differ from their own?
Which survey questions do you use?
Do you have any questions you’ve used in surveys that have revealed useful insights? Have any approaches worked well for your company? Please let us know in the comments below.
A version of this post first appeared on the Officevibe blog.
A good list indeed.
Many of these questions could also be used in team or one-on-one conversations.
When that’s the case, open-ended questions would be more powerful and generate valuable points of view. For example: What do you find most satisfying when collaborating with your peers? Together, how could you enhance your collaboration and take it to the next level. So many of the questions listed here lend themselves to that type of rewording.
Before asking your employees to pour their guts out, ask yourself what will the company do with the results? Publish them? What are criteria for acting on them? What actions is the company prepared to take?