12 Employee Survey Questions to Ask Your Team

The mental and emotional well-being of employees is more crucial than ever. An organization's success is often linked directly to the happiness and engagement of its workforce. The correlation is simple: when engagement rises, so does performance.  

A challenge organizations often face is how to identify and address what’s causing hidden disengagement among employees who are physically present but mentally checked out.

Let’s explore the importance of communication, collecting employee feedback and asking your employees the right questions that contribute to meaningful change.  

The importance of communication in an organization

Effective communication is the backbone of any successful organization. It ensures that all employees are aligned with the company's goals, understand their roles, and feel valued and heard. When information flows seamlessly across all levels of an organization, it creates a sense of transparency and trust.

Key benefits of strong communication:

• Clarity and alignment: employees understand their tasks and the company's vision.
• Trust building: transparent communication fosters trust between management and teams.  
• Problem-solving: open lines of communication help in addressing issues promptly.
• Employee engagement: engaged employees are more productive and motivated.

A practical way to gauge the effectiveness of communication within your organization is by simply asking employees for their feedback through targeted questions. Ensuring your organization has regular feedback loops between your teams is essential.  

The power of employee feedback

Employee feedback is a goldmine of insights that can drive organizational improvement. When employees feel that their opinions are valued, they are more likely to be engaged and committed to their work. Feedback mechanisms, such as pulse survey tools, provide a structured way for employees to voice their thoughts and contribute to your company's growth.

Benefits of employee feedback:

• Improvement and innovation: fresh ideas and perspectives can lead to innovation.
• Employee satisfaction: employees feel heard and valued, leading to higher job satisfaction.
• Retention: addressing feedback can help reduce turnover rates.
• Performance improvement: constructive feedback helps in personal and professional development.

Encouraging regular feedback and acting on it demonstrates that your organization cares about its employees' opinions and is committed to continuous improvement.

How pulse surveys lead to meaningful change in an organization

Pulse surveys are short, frequent surveys that provide a quick snapshot of employee sentiment and well-being. They are an excellent tool for measuring the health of your organization and identifying areas for improvement. Unlike annual surveys, pulse surveys are designed to be quick and easy to complete, ensuring higher response rates and more accurate data.

Advantages of pulse surveys:

• Timely feedback: get real-time insights into employee morale and issues.
• Actionable data: frequent data points allow for quick adjustments and improvements.
• Engagement tracking: monitor engagement levels regularly and identify trends.
• Continuous improvement: foster a culture of ongoing feedback and development.

By regularly checking in with employees through pulse surveys, organizations can make data-driven decisions that lead to meaningful change and improvement in workplace culture.

12 employee survey questions to ask your team

To gather valuable insights from your employees, it's essential to ask the right questions. Here are 12 essential questions that can help you measure various aspects of your workplace environment:

Questions for Employee Net Promoter Score (eNPS):

1. How likely are you to recommend our organization as a workplace to your friends and family?

2. What can we do better as an organization?

Questions for workplace communication:

3. Is important information effectively communicated across the company?

4. How satisfied are you with the clarity of communication from your immediate supervisor?

5. Are you clear on the goals and objectives of the organization?

Questions for manager relationships:

6. How satisfied are you with the frequency of one-on-one meetings with your manager to discuss your work and development?

7. Do you feel comfortable discussing challenges or concerns with your manager?

8. Do you agree that your manager gives you opportunities to grow and develop?

Questions for employee recognition:

9. Do you receive meaningful recognition for doing good work?

10. How satisfied are you with your team’s recognition of your contributions?  

Questions for employee wellness:

11. Do you sometimes feel worn out at the end of your workday?

12. Do you feel overwhelmed by the amount of work you are assigned?

Remember, it’s important to keep your surveys short and simple. If surveys become too lengthy, they become a burden and too time-consuming for employees.  

Best practice: pick one goal or area for improvement and dedicate a pulse survey to it. Ask clear and concise questions, collect the data and communicate the next steps your organization is going to take.  

Be transparent with your employees

Prioritizing employee well-being means making communication and feedback integral parts of your organizational culture. If employees are going to dedicate time to provide their feedback, then your organization must dedicate time to follow up with them.  

Sometimes the data doesn’t present the best news and that’s okay. What’s important is your employees have actively communicated their needs and concerns, and gathering feedback from your teams and acting on it is a crucial step in creating a thriving workplace.  

When leaders openly share information about company challenges and decisions, it builds inclusion and respect. This openness excels employee engagement and encourages a culture of honesty and accountability. By being transparent, organizations strengthen relationships and ensure everyone is aligned and working towards a common objective.