Employee surveys are a great way to gauge employee satisfaction or get an idea of how you can improve your company, but they only work if your employees complete them.It is more likely that your employees will fill out the survey if you give them all the key information.Creating paper-based surveys that can be submitted in semi-public areas can help your employees feel more anonymous, which increases the likelihood they'll turn their surveys in.The way you write the survey is important as well.
Step 1: Let your employees know about the survey.
In the weeks before the survey, send your employees a couple of emails.When it arrives, they will already be thinking about it.This can make them more likely to complete the survey.
Step 2: There is a survey and you should write a memo about it.
When you're ready to send the survey, include a memo.The survey should be included in the memo.Tell your employees what's going on.You can say something like, "We are conducting an employee survey to gauge employee satisfaction after our business merger."Make sure that your employees know that the survey is confidential.Tell your employees how to use the results.You can say "We'll use your responses to reorganize how you work with your supervisors."Tell your employees where to turn in their surveys by a deadline.Make sure you have a place where they can turn in their surveys.A breakroom is best near the time-clock.
Step 3: Tell your employees how long it will take.
Employees are more likely to schedule time to complete the survey if they know how long it will take.They will skip the survey if you don't give them an indication of how long they need to spend.Tell your employees that they can complete their surveys on company time.If they know they can take some time to complete it at work, they will be more likely to do it.
Step 4: The highest-ranked leader can sign the memo.
Employees are more likely to participate in the survey if the invitation comes from a high-ranking leader.
Step 5: Paper-based surveys can be given.
Employees know that there are ways to track their responses even if you're not doing so, and that computer-based surveys are easier to collect.Allowing your employees to fill out paper-based surveys will make them feel more anonymous.
Step 6: The surveys should be included with the invitation memo.
Employees don't need to worry about asking for one or picking one up if you include the survey in the invitation memo.It allows you to keep their answers confidential and increases their sense of anonymity.
Step 7: If you want to turn in the surveys, set up an anonymous place.
Employees are less likely to turn in completed surveys if they are asked to give them to someone within the company.They might be concerned that the person collecting the surveys will look at their answers, or that they'll know which survey was theirs.Employees can drop completed surveys in a locked box.
Step 8: Incentives should be provided for completing the survey.
Group incentives for completing surveys can increase the response rate.You could offer lunch to the department with the highest response rate.Individual incentives are needed if your company is small.
Step 9: Scales are a good place to ask scale questions.
The scale questions present an opinion, fact, or situation and then ask respondents to rate how likely it is.Employees are more likely to respond to these types of questions if they only have to fill in a bubble.You can ask questions like "My supervisor resolves customer conflict quickly" and then give scale answers.Give them 5 bubbles in a horizontal line, and place "strongly disagree" above the bubble all the way to the left and "agree" over it in the right.
Step 10: A survey can be done in less than 20 minutes.
Employees are more likely to give up halfway through a survey if it is too long.50 to 75 scale questions should be asked in the survey, which should take 20 minutes.
Step 11: Say some questions negatively.
Employees might stop the survey if you ask too many questions that suggest you're looking for a positive answer.It's possible to prevent this by saying negatively about a third of your survey questions.For example, instead of saying "We do a good job of resolving conflicts in my department", it would be better to say "we do poor job"
Step 12: Questions about demographic topics should be placed at the end of the survey.
In order to get employees to answer surveys, you need anonymity.Employees will be less likely to answer the rest of the survey if you ask demographic questions in the beginning.Limit how many demographic questions you include.Three is the most you should use.