Employee Engagement Survey Examples: Improve With Effective Feedback

Drive organizational improvement and workplace satisfaction with these effective employee engagement surveys and best practices.

August 28, 2024
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How would you describe your job to a five year old?
What season would you be?
What is a weird food you have tried? Would you eat it again?
What is your favorite holiday tradition?
Would you go in the mother-ship with aliens if they landed on Earth tomorrow?
What is your favorite season?
Do prefer working from home or the office?
What is your earliest memory of this job?
What is the best thing you have bought so far this year?
What is the earliest book you remember?
If you had to move to another country, which one would you choose?
You are the best criminal mastermind in the world. What crime would you commit if you knew you would get away with it?
What is your favorite movie genre to watch?
What was the last thing you ate?
What person from history would you add to Mount Rushmore?
What is a weird fact you know?
What is your favorite part of working from home?
Were the Spice Girls a good team?
Imagine you can instantly learn any language. Which would you choose?
If you could live in any state, which state would you pick?
Which fictional team is the best team of all time?
What did you want to be when you grew up?
What do you usually eat for a quick lunch?
What simple food will you never eat?
Show us the weirdest thing you have in the room with you right now.
Would you rather stay at a hotel or an AirBNB?
What is your favorite movie genre to watch?
Are you more productive in the morning or at night?
Who is someone in your community that makes a difference?
Who was your most unique pet?
Choose one famous person from history you want on your team during a zombie apocalypse.
What is a good way to give back to the community?
Which song could you listen to over and over again?
Is Hugh Grant funny?
What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast?
Would you want to have an imaginary friend today? Did you have one as a child?
What actor or actress would you want to play you in the movie about your life?
What is the best super power?
What is your New Years resolution?
You can only eat one food again for the rest of your life. What is it?
What is the best work holiday?
What is the first gift you remember receiving?
Would you rather join Metallica or Backstreet Boys?
What is the best example of a community you have seen?
What is an easy way to do something nice for someone?
Show us your phone background and tell the story behind why you picked this image.
What was your first job?
Pick any band to play at your funeral.
If you could have an unlimited supply of one thing for the rest of your life, what would you pick?
Which superpower would you give to your arch enemy?
What is the most obscure superpower you would want?
What emoji best describes how you are feeling right now?
If you could live in any country, which country would you pick?
Would you rather live in a city or a town?
What is your favorite holiday?
What is something you accomplished as part of a team?
What is your standard office lunch?
What is your most used phone app?
What is your favorite season?
Have you ever won something as a team?
Imagine you are a professional baseball player. What is your introduction song?
Beach holiday or ski trip?
Have you ever been to a funny comedy show?
Would you rather live at the North Pole or the South Pole?
What is your favorite song to sing?
If you could live in any state, which state would you pick?
Imagine you could teleport anywhere. Where would you go right now?
What is the most unusual job you have heard of?
What was the last thing you ate?
You can visit any fictional time or place. Which would you pick?
What do your family and friends think you do all day?
What movie do you wish you could watch again for the first time?
Show us your most-used emoji.
What was the most unique style or fashion trend you ever embraced?
What movie defined your generation?
You are stranded on a remote desert island. Are you alone or with your worst enemy?
What is your favorite knock-knock joke?
Have you ever told someone Santa is not real?
Do you know how to speak more than one language?
On a scale of 1 – 10, how much of a team player are you?
What is your #1 recommendation in this city?
What is your favorite holiday?
What bucket list item do you most want to check off in the next six months?
What is your favorite mythical creature?
What was the first way you made money?
If you could be great at any Olympic sport, which would it be?
Which song could you listen to over and over again?
When did you start liking/hating mushrooms?
Where is your favorite vacation spot?
Do you take your PTO all at one time, or another way?
Which show do you remember most from your childhood?
Which beverage goes best with pizza?
Would you want to have a personal assistant follow you around everywhere and do what you asked of them?
Have you ever met your idol?
What did you want to be when you grew up?
Would you rather live 100 years in the past or 100 years in the future?
What is your hobby?
When you are alone in the car, what volume is the music at?
Imagine you no longer have to work. How would you spend a Tuesday?
What is your favorite type of sandwich?

Employee engagement surveys are a powerful tool for understanding the pulse of an organization. They provide insights into employee sentiment, motivations, and areas needing improvement, all of which are necessary for a positive and productive work environment. Regularly administering these surveys allows organizations to effectively stay attuned to their employees' needs, leading to significantly higher engagement, reduced turnover, and markedly improved overall performance.

What Makes a Good Employee Engagement Survey

A well-crafted employee engagement survey is more than a set of questions; it’s a strategic tool that can drive meaningful change. An effective survey is more than surface-level metrics, it enables leaders to make informed decisions that enhance workplace culture, boost morale, and increase overall engagement. Key elements of an effective survey include:

  • Clarity and Relevance: Questions should be straightforward and directly related to areas that matter most to employees and the organization.
  • Anonymity: To encourage honesty, surveys should guarantee confidentiality, allowing employees to share their true thoughts without fear of repercussion.
  • Alignment With Organizational Goals: Questions should align with the organization’s objectives, ensuring that the feedback gathered can inform strategic decisions.
  • Engagement and Response Rate: To get the most accurate insights, the survey must be designed to encourage participation. This can be achieved by keeping surveys concise and highlighting the importance of employee input.

Types of Employee Engagement Surveys

Employee engagement surveys come in various forms, each tailored to address specific aspects of the employee experience and organizational needs. The role of these surveys helps to understand how employees feel about their work, the company culture, and their overall satisfaction. When selecting the right type of survey, a company gains actionable insights that drive improvements in engagement, retention, and overall workplace satisfaction. 

Below are common types of employee engagement surveys, each with a distinct focus and set of example questions.

  1. Pulse Surveys
    • Description and Purpose: Pulse surveys are short, frequent surveys designed to gauge employee sentiment on specific topics quickly. They help organizations stay informed about ongoing issues and can be particularly useful for tracking changes over time.
    • Example Questions
      • How satisfied are you with your current work-life balance?
      • Do you feel recognized for your contributions this week?
      • How connected do you feel to your team right now?
  2. Annual Engagement Surveys
    • Description and Purpose: These comprehensive surveys are typically conducted once a year to gather in-depth feedback on various aspects of the workplace. They provide a broad overview of employee engagement and help identify long-term trends.
    • Example Questions
      • How would you rate your overall job satisfaction?
      • Do you believe the organization supports your career development?
      • How effective is communication within your department?
  3. Onboarding Surveys
    • Description and Purpose: Onboarding surveys are conducted with new hires to assess their initial experiences within the organization. They help identify areas where the onboarding process can be improved, ensuring new employees feel welcomed and supported.
    • Example Questions
      • How well did the onboarding process prepare you for your role?
      • Did you receive adequate support during your first week?
      • How clearly were the company’s values communicated to you?
  4. Exit Surveys
    • Description and Purpose: Exit surveys are administered when an employee is leaving the organization. They provide insights into why employees leave and what could be improved to retain talent in the future.
    • Example Questions
      • What were the main reasons for your decision to leave?
      • How satisfied were you with your overall experience at the company?
      • What could we have done to keep you with the organization?

Example Questions for Employee Engagement Surveys

To create an effective employee engagement survey, asking the right questions is essential. These questions help in gauging the current level of engagement and provide insights into areas where improvements can be made. By carefully selecting and categorizing the questions, you can ensure that the survey covers all critical aspects of the employee experience, from job satisfaction to organizational culture, communication, and professional development. Here are examples categorized by focus area:

Job Satisfaction

  • How satisfied are you with your current role?
  • Do you feel your work is valued by the organization?

Work-Life Balance

  • How effectively does the organization support your work-life balance?
  • Do you feel you have enough flexibility in your work schedule?

Leadership and Management

  • How would you rate the leadership within your department?
  • Do you feel that management listens to and values your feedback?

Team Collaboration

  • How well do you feel your team works together?
  • Are you satisfied with the level of communication within your team?

Career Development

  • How satisfied are you with the career development opportunities available to you?
  • Do you feel the organization supports your professional growth?

Recognition and Rewards

  • How often do you receive recognition for your work?
  • Are you satisfied with the rewards and incentives offered by the organization?

Best Practices for Conducting Employee Engagement Surveys

To maximize the effectiveness of employee engagement surveys, it's important to approach their design and implementation thoughtfully. Surveys should be crafted to capture meaningful insights that can drive positive changes within the organization. Clear and concise questions, combined with a well-structured format can encourage honest feedback and higher participation rates. As you develop your survey strategy, apply these best practices:

  • Timing and Frequency: Choose the right time and frequency for your surveys to avoid survey fatigue while ensuring you gather timely feedback.
  • Confidentiality and Trust: Build trust by ensuring that responses are confidential and communicating how the data will be used.
  • Analyzing and Acting on Results: Analyze the results promptly and develop action plans based on the feedback. Share these plans with employees to demonstrate that their input is valued.
  • Communication: Clearly communicate the outcomes of the survey and the steps that will be taken in response. This transparency fosters trust and encourages continued participation.

Unlocking Your Workforce Potential

Employee engagement surveys are valuable tools for any organization that wants to improve employee satisfaction and drive continuous improvement. By regularly collecting and acting on employee feedback, you can create a more engaged and motivated work environment for your teams. Start or refine your employee engagement survey strategy today by scheduling a demo with Assembly. Unlock the full potential of your organization’s talent.

FAQ’s

What are some key questions to include in an employee engagement survey?

Key questions in an employee engagement survey should cover various aspects of the workplace, such as job satisfaction, work-life balance, leadership, and career development. Examples include:

  • "How satisfied are you with your current role?"
  • "Do you feel supported in maintaining a healthy work-life balance?"
  • "How would you rate the communication within your team?"
  • "Are you satisfied with the career development opportunities available to you?"

2. How often should employee engagement surveys be conducted?

The frequency of employee engagement surveys depends on the type of survey and organizational needs. Pulse surveys can be conducted quarterly or monthly to gauge ongoing sentiment, while comprehensive annual engagement surveys are typically conducted once a year. Onboarding and exit surveys are best administered at key transition points—shortly after a new hire joins or when an employee is leaving.

3. Why is anonymity important in employee engagement surveys?

Anonymity in employee engagement surveys is crucial because it encourages employees to provide honest feedback without fear of repercussion. When employees feel their responses are confidential, they are more likely to share genuine opinions, leading to more accurate insights that can drive meaningful improvements in the organization.

4. How can organizations improve the response rate of employee engagement surveys?

To improve the response rate of employee engagement surveys, organizations should ensure the surveys are concise and relevant, clearly communicate the importance of employee feedback, and guarantee confidentiality. Sharing how previous survey results led to positive changes can motivate employees to participate, knowing their input has a real impact.

Browse our Free Employee Recognition Guide

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Assembly SOC 2 compliant?

Yes, at Assembly, security is a top priority. Each quarter, we have ongoing security work that is everyone’s responsibility. While we maintain a strong security posture, it was important for us to prove to our customers that we do everything we claim to do. This led us to pursue a SOC 2 Type II report that would provide evidence of our compliance with industry gold-standard security practice.

What's the ROI for employee recognition?

There is study after study showing that employee recognition leads to increased engagement. This in return creates an environment where employees are happier and more motivated which increase productivity and reduces voluntary turnover significantly. In order to filled critical roles, companies tend to spend nearly twice the value of an annual salary. Assembly is an investment in your employees that supports your bottom line.

Does Assembly offer longer-term contracts?

Yes, we will offer contracts for companies with longer-term agreements to help larger customers have more certainty around future costs.

The minimum agreement term is a 12-month subscription.

Does Assembly offer onboarding support?

We do and for FREE! Any new customer needing further support to get started with Assembly to ensure you're set up for success can request custom onboarding support. Improving your employee experience is about much more than just using our amazing software; it’s about transforming your business to create a workplace that people love. That’s much easier to do with the personal support and advice from our passionate people experts.

Is there a free version of Assembly?

Yes. We offer a completely free plan for up to 50 team members. This plan is intended for teams or organizations that are looking to get started with an employee engagement tool. Keep in mind, this plan is limited in features.

All customers can open an Assembly account for free and get started without a credit card. Then you can change plans as necessary.

How much do rewards cost?

At the time of redemption (when your employees exchange their points for a paid reward) you'll pay face value. If a reward is a $10 Amazon gift card, your cost will be $10. All paid rewards are billed for on a monthly basis.

The good news is that you don't have to pay for rewards upfront because we only charge you when points are redeemed, not when they're earned.

Does Assembly offer discounts?

We offer discounts or educational or charitable organizations. In order to secure a discount, you'll first need to book a demo with a customer support specialist.

For all other organizations, we are willing to consider longer-term agreements in exchange for discounts. To set up annual plans or longer, you will need to book a demo with a customer support specialist.

How do I cancel my plan if needed?

If you're on a month to month plan, you can go here and cancel anytime. If you're having concerns or need help setting up your account for success, you can always book a demo with a customer support specialist.

If you're on a longer-term custom plan, you'll need to reach out to your customer support specialist to cancel your account or email us at support@joinassembly.com.

What customizations are available?

Great question! You can customize your core values to match your organization's to boost and track alignment. You can change your currency from the 🏆 emoji (our default) to any emoji of your choice. You can swap our logo for your own. You can also set up company culture rewards such as, "Lunch with the CEO," "Buy a book on us," and so much more!

Who can give or receive recognition?

While we recommend a peer to peer set up where anyone in your organization can give or receive recognition, you can set up Assembly however you want. If you need to limit the people who can give or receive recognition, that's perfectly fine and can be done from your Admin, here.

What integrations are available?

Assembly connects to the tools your employees use every day to offer an easy, seamless experience with minimal change management.  

Assembly has integrations with HCM/HRIS systems like ADP, Google, Office 365, and Slack. We also integrate with communication tools like Slack and Teams so you and your employees can access Assembly wherever they work now.

What's your average adoption rate?

That depends on the company's permissions set up. That said, over 90% of the employees on Assembly's platform are recognized on a monthly basis. That means nearly every employee across all of our customers are receiving regular recognition from their peers, managers, or leadership. We're extremely proud of this.

Must rewards be set up to use Assembly?

They are not required. You can use Assembly without having rewards set up. However, we don't recommend it if you intend to have a high adoption and usage rate. You can always keep the costs down by offering internal culture rewards that are fulfilled by you internally.

Are points required to use Assembly?

No, you can remove allowances from anyone or everyone. It's up to you but we do recommend using points whether they're worth a real dollar value or not. Companies that use points have a much higher engagement rate even if those points don't exchange for real dollars.

Could find the answer you are looking for?

Please schedule time with an expert and we will help you to get all your questions answered