Are Employee Engagement Surveys Useful? 10 Key Benefits to Unlock

Did you know that only about 23% of people worldwide felt happy and involved in their jobs in 2023, according to a study by Gallup? In Europe, this number is even lower at just 13%. The report also mentioned that around 31% of employees felt engaged in the United States. However, this percentage has been going down each year since 2020.

What is an Employee Engagement Survey?

An Employee Engagement Survey is a tool companies use to understand how their employees feel about their work and the organization. It usually consists of questions that employees answer anonymously, sharing their opinions on various aspects like job satisfaction, workplace environment, and communication. 

The goal is to gather valuable feedback, identify areas for improvement, and boost overall employee morale and engagement. These surveys help organizations create a positive work environment and enhance employee well-being.

Organizations should pay attention to these things when creating engagement surveys:

• How happy employees are with their job.
• If employees are loyal to the company and plan to stay.
• What factors drive employee engagement?
• The difficulties employees might be facing.
• What motivates employees to perform well?
• How committed are employees to the company's goals and objectives?
• How connected employees feel to their colleagues and the company.

Examples of Employee Engagement Survey

Here are five examples of Employee Engagement Survey questions, categorized by their focus:

1. Overall Satisfaction and Commitment

   • "To what extent do you feel proud to work for [Company Name]?" (Multiple choice: Very proud, Somewhat proud, Neutral, Somewhat dissatisfied, Very dissatisfied)
   • "On a scale of 1 to 10, how likely are you to recommend [Company Name] as a great place to work?" (Scale of 1-10)

2. Work Environment and Culture

   • "Do you feel comfortable and respected by your colleagues and manager?" (Yes/No)
   • "How satisfied are you with the work-life balance you currently experience?" (Multiple choice: Very satisfied, Somewhat satisfied, Neutral, Somewhat dissatisfied, Very dissatisfied)

3. Growth and Development

   • "Does your current role provide opportunities for you to learn and develop new skills?" (Multiple choice: Strongly agree, Agree, Neutral, Disagree, Strongly disagree)
   • "Do you feel you have clear career development goals and a plan to achieve them?" (Yes/No)

4. Recognition and Reward

   • "Do you feel your contributions and achievements are recognized and valued by your manager and colleagues?" (Multiple choice: Always, Often, Sometimes, Rarely, Never)
   • "How satisfied are you with the current compensation and benefits offered by [Company Name]?" (Multiple choice: Very satisfied, Somewhat satisfied, Neutral, Somewhat dissatisfied, Very dissatisfied)

5. Open-Ended Feedback

   • "What is one thing we could do to improve your overall work experience at [Company Name]?" (Open-ended text response)
   • "Is there anything else you would like to share about your experience working at [Company Name]?" (Open-ended text response)

Tips For Asking The Right Questions in an Employee Engagement Survey

Here are some tips for asking good questions in your employee engagement survey:

1. Keep it simple

   Avoid long and confusing questions. Break them down if needed, making it easier for everyone to understand and answer. This also helps analyze the data later.

2. Open the door for feedback

   Include at least one open-ended question where employees can freely share their thoughts on potential improvements. Listen to their voices!

3. Ask, don't tell

   The goal is to understand your employees, so focus on asking questions. Limit explanations to essential context to avoid swaying their responses.

4. Use a consistent scale

   For many questions, offer a 5-point scale like "Strongly Agree" to "Strongly Disagree." This format enables easy data analysis and comparison between questions.

10 Key Benefits of Employee Engagement Surveys

Employee engagement surveys offer valuable insights into your workforce's overall well-being and morale. By understanding their perceptions and experiences, you can make informed decisions to improve the work environment and optimize company performance. 

Here are ten key benefits of conducting regular employee engagement surveys:

1. Increased Employee Retention

   Employees who feel valued, heard, and engaged with their work are likely to stay with the organization. You can proactively address concerns and foster a positive work environment that retains top talent by identifying potential issues contributing to dissatisfaction.

2. Improved Employee Satisfaction

   Engagement surveys provide a platform for employees to voice their opinions and concerns. Addressing their feedback demonstrates a commitment to their well-being and satisfaction, leading to a more positive and motivated workforce.

3. Enhanced Employee Well-being

   Engagement surveys can uncover potential stressors or challenges employees face in the workplace. This allows you to implement initiatives that promote mental and physical well-being, fostering a healthier and happier work environment.

4. More Trust and Empathy

   Regularly seeking and considering employee feedback demonstrates a willingness to understand their perspectives and fosters trust and empathy within the organization. This strengthens employee and leadership relationships, leading to a more collaborative and productive work environment.

5. Alignment Around Mission and Values

   Employee engagement surveys can reveal how well employees understand and connect with the organization's mission and values. This allows for clearer communication and ensures everyone works towards the same goals.

6. A Sense of Community and Belonging

   When employees feel heard and valued, they are more likely to feel connected to their colleagues and the organization as a whole. This fosters community and belonging, leading to increased collaboration, support, and overall well-being.

7. Improved Performance

   Engaged employees are more likely to be productive, innovative, and committed. By addressing any issues hindering engagement, you can unlock the full potential of your workforce and contribute to improved company performance.

8. Enhanced Customer Experience

   Engaged employees are more likely to deliver exceptional customer service. You can indirectly contribute to a more positive customer experience by fostering a positive work environment and promoting brand loyalty and satisfaction.

9. Better Decision-Making

   Data gathered through employee engagement surveys provides valuable insights to inform strategic decision-making. By understanding employee needs and perspectives, you can make more informed choices that benefit the employees and the organization.

10. Improved Brand Reputation

    A positive work environment and engaged workforce contribute to a stronger employer brand. This can attract top talent, improve public perception, and enhance your company's reputation and competitiveness.

    Organizations can create a more positive, productive, and successful work environment for everyone by conducting regular employee engagement surveys and taking action based on the feedback received.

How Do You Create an Employee Engagement Survey in Indonesia?

Here's how you can create an influential Employee Engagement Survey in Indonesia:

Step 1: Define Your Goals and Objectives

• What specific aspects of employee engagement do you want to assess?
• What information will help you make informed decisions to improve the work environment?

Step 2: Consider the Indonesian Context

• Ensure the survey is translated accurately into Bahasa Indonesia by a professional translator familiar with nuances and cultural contexts.
• Be mindful of cultural sensitivities when crafting survey questions, and avoid using potentially offensive or ambiguous language.

Step 3: Choose the Right Survey Format

• Online surveys: Offer convenience and anonymity, making it easier to reach a larger audience.
• Paper surveys: May be more accessible in areas with limited internet access but can be more time-consuming to collect and analyze.
• A combination of both: Can cater to different preferences and ensure broader participation.

Step 4: Develop Clear and Concise Questions

• Use straightforward language that all employees easily understand.
• Avoid leading questions or biased wording that might influence responses.
• Include a mix of closed-ended questions with multiple-choice answers and open-ended questions, allowing for more detailed feedback.

Step 5: Pilot Test the Survey

• Have a small group of employees test the survey and provide feedback on clarity, length, and overall ease of use.
• This helps refine the survey before launching it to the entire workforce.

Step 6: Promote the Survey and Encourage Participation

• Communicate the purpose and benefits of the survey to employees.
• Emphasize anonymity and confidentiality to encourage honest feedback.
• Offer incentives for participation, such as raffles or small gifts (optional).

Step 7: Analyze the Results and Take Action

• Analyze the data to identify key trends and areas for improvement.
• Share the results with employees transparently, outlining any actions you plan to take based on their feedback.
• Communicate progress and demonstrate your commitment to addressing their concerns.

Do Surveys Improve Employee Engagement?

While not a guaranteed solution, employee engagement surveys can be a valuable tool for organizations in promoting and measuring employee engagement, potentially leading to its improvement if used correctly. 

Here's a breakdown of their impact:

Positive effects:

• Identifying improvement areas: Surveys highlight aspects like workload, recognition, or communication that impact engagement, allowing organizations to address these issues.
• Demonstrating value: Actively seeking feedback shows employees their opinions are valued, potentially boosting morale and engagement.
• Data-driven decisions: Survey data can inform strategic decisions about employee well-being, fostering a more positive work environment.
• Open communication: Surveys can open a dialogue between employees and leadership, promoting transparency and trust.

Negative effects:

• Not a guaranteed fix: Simply conducting surveys requires addressing underlying issues to improve engagement automatically.
• Poorly designed surveys: Badly structured questions can yield misleading results and damage trust.
• Focus on action: The key lies in acting on the survey feedback to create meaningful change.
• Sustainable effort: Engagement is an ongoing process, requiring consistent efforts beyond just conducting surveys.

While surveys may not directly improve engagement, they can be a valuable tool in conjunction with other efforts. When implemented and used strategically, they can provide insights, promote dialogue, and guide actions that ultimately lead to a more engaged workforce.

Final Words

Employee Engagement Surveys are crucial tools for companies wanting a positive workplace. These surveys allow employees to share their thoughts and feelings, helping employers understand job satisfaction, loyalty, and engagement. 

By listening to the feedback from these surveys, companies can make essential improvements, boost employee morale, and create a more positive and productive work atmosphere. It's a valuable commitment to creating a workplace where employees are happy, contributing to the long-term success and growth of the organization.

Leverage Darwinbox’s Employee Engagement platform to keep your employees engaged, happy, and inspired with a comprehensive approach to employee engagement so you can save a close ear to your people’s sentiments and health. Schedule a demo to talk to our sales team!