Employee surveys: Questions, types, and examples

Use our employee survey templates and questions to boost employee motivation and productivity. From employee satisfaction, work-life balance, or company culture surveys, SurveyPlanet has you covered.

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Employee surveys can be vital to boosting employee motivation and productivity. From employee satisfaction, work-life balance, or company culture surveys, SurveyPlanet has you covered. This can be as simple as choosing a template that works best or signing up for a SurveyPlanet account that offers more customization options. SurveyPlanet’s basic plan is free, user-friendly, and there’s always the option to upgrade to one of our paid plans that best meets your needs.

Why employee surveys are important

Employee surveys play a pivotal role in understanding and enhancing the employee experience within an organization. With engagement surveys, companies gain valuable insights into how employees feel about their roles, their work environment, and their overall job satisfaction.

Such surveys provide a comprehensive snapshot of employees’ state of mind, allowing companies to identify organizational strong points and areas that need improvement. Through satisfaction, pulse, and employee engagement surveys, organizations can regularly gauge worker sentiment and make informed decisions in pursuit of fostering a positive professional atmosphere.

Survey results act as a compass, guiding companies toward initiatives that boost engagement and create a workplace where employees feel valued and are motivated to contribute their best.

Conducting surveys shows employees that their opinions and well-being are valued. Based on their responses, areas for improvement can be ascertained.

Employees are not all the same and are motivated by different things. Find out what drives each to work better and what they need to thrive. With these answers, a more positive work environment for every employee can be put in place. Employee surveys will help you to do that.

Employee questionnaire: Types of employee surveys

There are many employee questionnaires an employer can utilize. Which survey to use largely depends on specific needs and goals. Here is an overview of some of the most widely used types:

Employee satisfaction surveys

These offer valuable feedback and data about the overall satisfaction level of employees regarding their jobs and the company. There is always room for improvement. Creating a more satisfied workforce is an achievable goal.

Learn more about employee satisfaction surveys

Employee engagement surveys

These are used to measure the level of engagement and satisfaction among employees. The primary purpose of such surveys is to assess how connected, motivated, and committed employees are to their work and the overall goals of the organization. Employee engagement is a crucial factor in determining organizational success, as committed employees tend to be more productive, creative, and loyal.

Employee feedback surveys

Not sure what employees think about specific issues facing the company? Find out with an employee feedback survey. These are some of the best employee surveys to undertake, helping to identify problems and boost employee morale—while also providing more insight into their engagement, needs, and views on certain topics.

Employee retention surveys

Is employee retention a problem? If so, the reasons need to be discovered. Employee retention surveys are a great tool to reduce turnover and help employees be more satisfied over the long term. In combination with an employee exit survey, the reasons why people quit—and what to do in order to prevent that—can be better detected.

Employee exit survey

Finding out why an employee quit—by asking about their specific work experiences—is crucial for improving a company's performance. As part of an exit interview, make sure to conduct an employee exit survey to get candid answers about what influenced them to leave.

Learn more about employee exit survey

Work-life balance surveys

These types of surveys focus on one of the most important current human resource topics—the work-life balance of workers. Employees increasingly try their best to create a perfect balance between their personal life and their job. Better understand if employees are overworked or feel under pressure with the answers from an employee survey.

Learn more about work-life balance surveys

Example employee survey questions

We've singled out these 11 employee survey questions to better understand their views on certain topics and overall satisfaction with their jobs:

  • How satisfied are you with your overall job experience thus far?
  • What did you learn from working at our company?
  • Which of the following factors influenced you to decide to leave our company?
  • What did you dislike about your job?
  • Were you trained effectively to perform your job?
  • How often did your supervisors give you recognition for your work?
  • On a scale of 1-10, how important are free office snacks to you?
  • How likely are you to recommend someone to work here?
  • How satisfied are you with your current work hours?
  • Could you benefit from offloading some of your tasks to another employee?
  • How often do you work on the weekend?

Employee questionnaires are a great way to hear from staff. Whether seeking feedback about workplace culture, job satisfaction, or new ways to improve retention and engagement, SurveyPlanet’s invaluable tools provide insight into how employees can be better supported. Sign up today and try them.

A general employee survey sample

Here's a general employee survey sample that covers various aspects of the employee experience:

Employee experience survey questions

We value your feedback and insights and know they will help us create a better workplace for everyone. This anonymous survey will take about 10-15 minutes to complete. Your responses will be kept confidential. Please answer each question honestly and thoughtfully.

1. General information

  • 1. What is your Department: _______________________
  • 2. What is your Position: _______________________

2. How long have you been with the company?

  • Less than 1 year
  • 1-3 years
  • 3-5 years
  • Over 5 years

3. On a scale of 1 to 5, how satisfied are you with your current role?

  • 1 (Very Dissatisfied)
  • 2 (Dissatisfied)
  • 3 (Neutral)
  • 4 (Satisfied)
  • 5 (Very Satisfied)

4. What aspects of your job do you find most satisfying?

(Open-ended)

5. Are the physical work conditions (office/workspace) conducive to your productivity and comfort?

  • Yes
  • No
  • Neutral

6. How well do you feel informed about company goals and updates?

  • Very Well Informed
  • Somewhat Informed
  • Neutral
  • Not Very Informed
  • Not Informed at All

7. How often do you receive constructive feedback on your work performance?

  • Very Often
  • Often
  • Sometimes
  • Rarely
  • Never

8. Are you satisfied with the opportunities for professional growth and advancement within the company?

  • Very Satisfied
  • Satisfied
  • Neutral
  • Dissatisfied
  • Very Dissatisfied

9. Have you received sufficient training to excel in your role?

  • Yes, I've received ample training.
  • I've received some training, but more could be beneficial.
  • No, I believe more training is needed.

10. How would you rate your relationship with your direct manager?

  • Excellent
  • Good
  • Neutral
  • Poor
  • Very Poor

11. Do you feel your manager provides clear expectations and guidance?

  • Yes, always
  • Most of the time
  • Sometimes
  • Rarely
  • No, never

12. How well do you feel the company values diversity and inclusion?

  • Strongly Values
  • Values
  • Neutral
  • Doesn't Value
  • Strongly Doesn't Value

13. Do you feel aligned with the company's mission and values?

  • Completely Aligned
  • Aligned
  • Neutral
  • Not Aligned
  • Completely Not Aligned

14. How well is your work-life balance being supported by the company?

  • Very Well Supported
  • Well Supported
  • Neutral
  • Poorly Supported
  • Very Poorly Supported

15. Do you believe the company supports your well-being and mental health?

  • Yes, to a great extent
  • Yes, to some extent
  • Neutral
  • No, not really
  • No, not at all

16. Please provide any additional comments or suggestions for improving the workplace.

(Open-ended)

Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey. Your feedback is valuable in helping us enhance the employee experience.

Employee survey best practices

No matter which survey is carried out, the most important best practice is first understanding the goals of the survey. What do you want to achieve? Which topic needs to be explored in-depth? Once the answers to those questions have been realized, then make sure to follow these employee survey best practices:

  • Motivate employees to participate in the survey. Do this with various incentives, such as small prizes for filling out surveys.
  • Ensure employees that their answers are confidential.
  • Make sure that there are no repercussions for how employees fill out their survey. This will encourage them to be honest and provide a clearer picture of how they feel about working at the company.
  • Explain the reasons for conducting the survey. Transparency goes a long way, and this will make them feel heard and appreciated.
  • If possible, always make employee surveys anonymous.

Remember, well-executed employee surveys can move a business and its employees forward. Follow employee survey best practices—including trying out our employee survey templates—and you're good to go.

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