10 Vital Employee Engagement Survey Questions Supported by Scientific Insight

To foster continuous growth and extend your company’s reach, it is crucial to have highly engaged employees. Without such engagement, they may fall short of realizing their full potential, posing a significant challenge to your organization in achieving its goals.

Nevertheless, companies globally face a significant challenge regarding employee engagement.

As per a recent report, a mere 33% of workers are actively engaged, signalling a pressing issue. Employee disengagement often translates to reduced productivity. Furthermore, this lack of engagement can have a ripple effect, influencing peers and diminishing the overall output of the entire team.

How does your organization’s engagement level compare to the average? Are you uncertain?

If you’re unsure about the engagement of your employees or how to assess it, don’t worry. Many companies find themselves in the same predicament, possibly contributing to the overall dismal state of global engagement statistics.

The positive aspect is that determining your team’s engagement level is a relatively straightforward process. The most effective approach is to directly ask them.

Recognizing that not every employee may feel comfortable expressing their concerns verbally, a more effective method might be to assess your team’s engagement through anonymous pulse surveys.

Now, the question is: How do you go about it?

Employee Engagement Survey Questions: What Sets Them Apart

Crafting the ideal employee engagement survey is undeniably a challenging task. However, the encouraging news is that it’s not an insurmountable one.

What’s even better? We’ve delved into extensive research on the subject, streamlining the process for you to identify the precise questions that are both psychologically and scientifically proven to yield results.

Contrary to the notion of inundating your team with numerous questions, the reality is that you can achieve valuable insights with just 10 carefully chosen queries. These questions can effectively delve into key factors influencing engagement, such as satisfaction with peers and supervisors, opportunities for career growth, pride in the company and its products, and the sense of being valued and appreciated.

Overall Satisfaction

Numerous factors contribute to overall workplace satisfaction. While we have outlined recommended questions below to delve into specific details, it’s beneficial to grasp an overarching perspective initially.

The following questions aim to provide a general indication of employee satisfaction or dissatisfaction:

  1. On a scale of 1 to 10, How would you rate your happiness at work?
  2. On a scale of 1 to 10, what is your assessment of your organization’s culture?
  3. On a scale of 1 to 10, How likely would you consider leaving for a 10% raise from another company?

Sense of Value and Appreciation

In the year 2017, we were taken aback to discover that merely 25% of employees reported feeling strongly valued in their workplace—a notable 16-percentage point decline from the previous year.

Given the pivotal role that appreciation and recognition play in motivating employees to perform at their best, this revelation was concerning. Hence, it is imperative to include questions that delve into this crucial aspect.

  1. In the last two weeks, have you received any form of recognition from a supervisor?
  2. On a scale of 1 to 10, how valued do you currently feel in your workplace?

Peer Satisfaction

Were you aware that work colleagues rank as the primary motivator for employees going the extra mile? It surprised us as well!

This underscores the significance of satisfaction with peers, highlighting the importance of measuring this variable.

  1. On the scale of 1 to 10, How would you rate your colleagues and team members?

Satisfaction with the Superiors

Are you familiar with the adage, “You don’t quit your job, you quit your boss”?

This saying often holds true, as consistent dissatisfaction with direct supervisors can be a significant catalyst for disengagement. Ensure you explore this aspect in your assessment.

  1. On a scale of 1 to 10, How would you rate the performance of your direct supervisor?

Growth Opportunities

Our research has revealed that a leading factor prompting employees to contemplate leaving their workplace is the absence of opportunities for professional growth.

To gauge whether your employees perceive limitations in their professional development, inquire:

  1. On a scale of 1 to 10, how much do you feel the organization provides opportunities for your professional growth?

Organizational Pride

Your customers serve as both powerful advocates and potential critics, offering insights into their belief in your product, mission, and business practices. It is crucial to discern whether their commitment is rooted in genuine belief or merely a paycheck.

Consider the following questions:

  1. On a scale of 1 to 10, how likely are you to recommend our organization’s products or services to a friend or colleague?
  2. On a scale of 1 to 10, how well do you perceive our customer service?

While each of these inquiries holds significance, one must not overlook the imperative question: “Why?” The exploration of reasons behind a response, whether affirmative or negative, provides deeper insights into an employee’s mindset.

Understanding the ‘why’ behind their responses is instrumental in gaining a more nuanced understanding. This approach equips you to make informed decisions, fostering positive changes for enhanced engagement. With a more engaged workforce, the potential for positive transformations becomes limitless.