Employee survey template

What if you could build engaging employee surveys with quality response rates that allow you to provide personalized feedback?

Based on a well-designed employee survey template you’ll make objective and good decisions.

Pointerpro is the 2-in-1 software that combines assessment building with personalized PDF report generation.

What is an employee survey and when should you use it?

An employee survey is a tool used by organizations to collect feedback, opinions, and suggestions from employees. It typically consists of a series of questions designed to gauge various aspects of the workplace, employee satisfaction, engagement, and other factors relevant to the work environment and organizational culture.

The key features and purposes of an employee survey include:

Feedback collection: It gathers input on various aspects of the workplace, such as job satisfaction, management effectiveness, workplace culture, and employee engagement.
Measuring employee engagement and satisfaction: These surveys often focus on understanding how motivated and content employees are with their work and work environment.
Organizational insight: It provides insights into what employees think about the organization's policies, culture, and direction.
Identifying strengths and weaknesses: Helps in identifying areas where the organization excels and where it needs improvement.
Driving change: The feedback obtained can be used to make informed decisions and implement changes in policies, processes, or culture.
Employee retention: Understanding employees' concerns and addressing them can improve job satisfaction and reduce turnover rates.
Communication channel: Surveys can act as a communication tool, giving employees a voice to express their opinions and concerns, which might not surface through regular communication channels.
Performance evaluation: They can be used to gather feedback about management and peer performance.

Employee surveys are often anonymous to ensure that employees feel comfortable providing honest and candid responses.

The effectiveness of such surveys largely depends on how the organization communicates the purpose of the survey, assures confidentiality, and how it responds to and acts upon the feedback received. It’s good to ask yourself: “Can we give our employees something back in return for answering the survey?”

3 reasons to use Pointerpro as an employee survey tool

Interactive user experience

With the Questionnaire Builder, you get to create an engaging survey. How? With numerous design and layout options, useful widgets and countless question types.

Refined, score-based analysis

Our custom scoring engine helps you quantify and categorize diverse answers. The result? An objective and nuanced assessment of your employees’ answers.

Automated feedback in PDF

Thanks to your setup in the Report Builder, respondents instantly get a detailed PDF report: with helpful charts, a personalized IT risk analysis, and actionable tips.

Interactive user experience

Numerous design options, useful widgets, and countless question types.

Refined, score-based analysis

The custom scoring engine helps you quantify and categorize answers and respondents.

Automated feedback in PDF

For each respondent! With helpful charts, a detailed analysis, and actionable tips.

1.500+ businesses worldwide build assessments with Pointerpro

30 survey template example questions

Here are 30 survey example questions divided into 3 categories:

10 employee survey example questions

A survey where the aforementioned feedback reports become particularly interesting is the employee survey. Here’s a list of widely used employee survey template questions:

How satisfied are you with your current role and responsibilities?
How would you rate the communication from management?
Do you feel valued and recognized for your contributions?
How would you rate your work-life balance?
Do you have the resources and support needed to do your job effectively?
How likely are you to recommend our company as a great place to work?
How effective is the team collaboration within your department?
Are you satisfied with the opportunities for professional growth?
How would you rate the company culture and work environment?
What improvements would you suggest for the workplace?

These employee survey template questions assess the work experience from the employees’ perspective, focusing on job satisfaction, communication, recognition, work-life balance, and support resources. It aims to understand employees’ perceptions of team dynamics, company culture, and opportunities for professional growth.

10 employee engagement survey example questions

Employee engagement surveys specifically focus on how emotionally invested and committed employees are to their organization. Unlike generic employee surveys, which may cover a broader range of topics like job satisfaction, resources, or management communication, employee engagement surveys delve into how engaged employees are with their work and the company.

These surveys seek to understand the level of employees’ passion, motivation, and alignment with the company’s goals and values. They can reveal insights into employees’ willingness to go above and beyond, their sense of belonging, and their advocacy for the company. Here are 10 employee engagement survey template questions:

Do you find your work meaningful and fulfilling?
How passionate are you about the work you do here?
Do you feel your work contributes to the company's goals?
How proud are you to be a part of this organization?
How connected do you feel to your coworkers and team members?
Do you feel motivated to go above and beyond your job responsibilities?
How strongly do you believe in our company's values and mission?
How confident are you in the leadership and direction of our organization?
Do you feel you have opportunities to provide input and feedback in decision-making processes?
Would you advocate for our company as a great place to work to friends and family?

Employee satisfaction survey example questions

How satisfied are you with the physical work environment and facilities provided?
Do you feel that your job role and responsibilities are clearly defined and understood?
How do you rate the fairness and effectiveness of the performance evaluation process?
Are you satisfied with the benefits package (healthcare, retirement plans, etc.) offered by our company?
How would you rate the level of support you receive from your immediate supervisor or manager?
How do you feel about the workload and pace of work in your current role?
Do you believe you receive adequate training and resources to perform your job effectively?
How satisfied are you with the opportunities for lateral movement or role variety within the company?
Are you satisfied with the level of transparency and communication regarding company policies and changes?
How do you rate the level of respect and inclusivity in the workplace?

These employee survey template questions focus more on the practical and logistical aspects of an employee’s work life. Examples of these? Work environment, clarity of role, support from management, and overall job satisfaction. As you can tell, this is different than their emotional and psychological engagement with the company.

Employee engagement vs employee satisfaction

“Employee engagement” and “employee satisfaction” are related but distinct concepts in the realm of organizational behavior.

Employee satisfaction primarily refers to how content employees are with their job and work environment. It can also be related to specific areas of their work rather than their job in general. It encompasses factors like the nature of the work, compensation, benefits, work-life balance, and the physical work setting. Satisfaction is about the fulfillment of basic needs and expectations – it’s a measure of how happy employees are with what they receive from their job.

In contrast, employee engagement goes deeper and tries to measure how emotionally invested and committed employees are to their organization. Engagement is characterized by a strong emotional commitment to one’s work and the company.

While a satisfied employee might perform adequately, an engaged employee brings vigor, dedication, and innovation to their work. That’s also why employee engagement surveys are often considered more useful for predicting employee growth.

Other types of employee survey templates

Employee surveys can be made more narrow when needed. Here are a few rather common examples of employee survey templates that are meant to gather specific insights, helping organizations understand and enhance various dimensions of the employee experience and workplace environment.

Diversity & inclusion survey template: Designed to evaluate the inclusivity of the workplace, this template focuses on equal opportunity, respect for differences, leadership representation, and the effectiveness of diversity programs.
Work-life balance survey template: Examines the balance employees maintain between their work responsibilities and personal life, exploring flexible working arrangements, workload, stress levels, and work's impact on personal well-being.
Pulse survey template: A brief, frequent survey to quickly gauge the company's health and employee sentiment over time, focusing on immediate areas of interest or concern.
360-degree feedback survey template: Gathers comprehensive feedback about an employee from various sources, including supervisors, peers, subordinates, and sometimes external contacts, primarily for developmental purposes.
Onboarding survey template: Aimed at new hires, this template evaluates their experiences with the recruitment process, orientation, and initial training phases to gauge the effectiveness of integration strategies.
Exit survey template: Conducted with departing employees to understand their reasons for leaving and their overall experience with the organization, providing insights into areas needing improvement.
Culture survey template: Assesses the underlying beliefs, behaviors, and values that define the company culture, offering insights into how well the culture aligns with organizational goals and employee well-being.
Health and wellness survey template: Evaluates the organization's health and wellness initiatives from the employees' perspective, covering mental health support, physical health facilities, and related policies.

What Pointerpro clients are saying

"We use Pointerpro for all types of surveys and assessments across our global business, and employees love its ease of use and flexible reporting."

“It’s a great advantage to have formulas. There could be hundreds of formulas, but the customer only sees the easy-to-read report. If you’re looking for something like that, it’s really nice to work with Pointerpro.”

"You guys have done a great job making this as easy to use as possible and still robust in functionality."

"I give the new report builder 5 stars for its easy of use. Anyone without coding experience can start creating automated personalized reports quickly."

5 typical employee survey findings

There are some common themes that often emerge as typical findings across various types of employee surveys. Here are five major ones:

Communication gaps: Many employee surveys reveal gaps in communication, either between management and staff or among different departments. Employees may feel they're not adequately informed about company decisions, changes, or future plans, leading to feelings of uncertainty or exclusion.
Desire for professional development: A frequent finding is employees' desire for more opportunities for professional growth and development. This includes requests for more training programs, skill development courses, career advancement opportunities, and constructive feedback from management.
Work-life balance concerns: Work-life balance is a common concern among employees. Surveys often uncover issues related to long working hours, insufficient flexibility, healthcare, or the challenges of managing work and personal life, particularly in environments with high work demands or inflexible scheduling.
Recognition and reward: Employees often express a need for more recognition and reward for their work. This doesn't always mean financial incentives; it can also include public acknowledgment, awards, or other forms of appreciation that make employees feel valued for their contributions.
Workplace culture and environment: Issues related to workplace culture, such as inclusivity, collaboration, and overall work environment, are frequently highlighted. Employees may point out the need for a more positive, supportive, or inclusive workplace culture that fosters teamwork, respect, and employee well-being.

How to use employee survey results and follow up: 4 key tips

Actively communicate and express appreciation: Thank employees for their participation and openly share the survey results with them. Clear communication from leadership about the findings shows transparency and respect for employees' input. This step fosters trust and demonstrates that the organization values its employees' opinions.
Analyze and share insights collaboratively: Involve a cross-functional team, including HR and department leaders, to analyze the survey results thoroughly. Share these insights not just at the top level but also in team or departmental meetings. This approach ensures a comprehensive understanding of the feedback and encourages diverse perspectives in interpreting the data.
Develop and implement actionable plans: Use the insights gained to create targeted action plans addressing key areas of concern. These plans should be specific, achievable, and have clear timelines and accountability. It's important to ensure that these actions are not just reactive but also proactive in enhancing the workplace environment.
Maintain an ongoing feedback loop: Treat the survey as a starting point, not a one-off event. Regularly update employees on the progress of the initiatives taken and be open to making adjustments based on new feedback. Over time, conduct follow-up surveys to assess the impact of the changes and to foster a culture of continuous feedback and improvement.

These 4 tips focus on the most critical aspects of leveraging employee surveys effectively: communication, collaboration, action, and continuous improvement. Implementing these steps can significantly enhance employee engagement and satisfaction, leading to a more positive and productive work environment.

Create your first employee survey today