Everyone wants their voice to be heard. Surveys are must-haves, but how valuable are they to employees? Here’s what to know.
You periodically send out employee surveys. That's the way to go if you want to understand how your workers think and feel, after all. But have you ever wondered how your employees actually feel about those surveys? Are they excited to take new ones, or do they dread seeing them pop up in their inboxes?
The truth is that employees value good surveys, and there are a few easy ways to make sure your workforce is excited to share their feedback the next time you send one out. Let’s take a closer look at the benefits of surveys, how your employees likely feel about them, and how to get the most out of the ones you send out.
1. Surveys promote inclusiveness
As a leader, it's essential to create an environment in which all workers – regardless of race, gender, or rank – feel free to express their opinions. Everyone should have a voice that matters in your company, and surveys can help them feel welcome.
One of the ways to know if there are gaps in your diversity and inclusiveness (D&I) policy is by asking your workers. Surveys are one of the ways you can do that. The feedback you get can help you create an inclusive atmosphere for your employees to thrive.
2. They increase employee morale
Imagine a company where employees' views aren't considered when it comes to decision-making. You'll end up with employees who aren't motivated to give their best, and low morale can lead to a reduction in both individual and team productivity. That's why it's essential to keep your workers engaged.
Let's face it. Employees are one of the most essential aspects of your company. Unsatisfied workers may decide to leave, which will affect growth, and it can be daunting to find and hire replacements.
Surveys show your employees that you're interested in how they feel at work, even if they’re dissatisfied. They also show that you want them to be content and energized with the work they do. Prioritizing their satisfaction increases their confidence, which will also affect their morale and output.
3. Surveys encourage honest feedback
One of the benefits of using surveys is that you can make them anonymous. This encourages employees who would have been reluctant or shy to respond to give honest answers. Make sure the questions do not out an employee’s:
- Role, particularly if there are only a few in a given position
- Gender
- Age
- Amount of time they’ve been with the company
Keeping questions general will offer better opportunities for truly honest feedback. Surveys bridge the gap between managers and employees. It may be difficult for some employees to walk up to a manager’s office to share their grievances, but surveys simplify the process. The questions can be answered honestly and anonymously right from their workstations.
4. Surveys help to identify broken processes
There are bound to be areas that require improvement as your company grows. Your employees have likely identified those areas and will want to communicate their views to their superiors. Organizing employee surveys allows your workers to speak freely, and you can include questions about your company's progress to obtain feedback.
Employees who see that you're willing to listen to them will be more eager to share their views. They want to grow with the company, and allowing them to partner with you in identifying improvement areas shows them you're also interested in their growth.
5. Surveys encourage employee participation
Your company is full of people with varying skills and personalities. Some might be outspoken, but others might find it difficult to communicate with their colleagues and team leaders. Surveys provide a platform where all can speak freely by typing responses on their phones or computer. They become a part of the company by contributing their feedback to projects, processes, and policies.
How to get the best out of employee surveys
The point of conducting employee surveys is to identify areas in your company that need improvement and improve employee engagement, but it doesn't end there. Your responsibility as a leader is to take action based on the findings. Here’s how you can get the best results from employee surveys:
- Make them frequent
It’s important to continue with the initiative after conducting your survey. Your employees need to know that surveys have become a part of the company and a method for solving problems. This way, they'll always look forward to the next one.
Decide how often you want to conduct employee surveys and stay consistent. You can send and analyze them monthly or quarterly, for example.
- Share the results
Transparency is key if you want your employees to feel like they’re part of the process, so it's necessary to share your findings. Keep individual responses anonymous, but collate the results and make the information accessible to your workers.
Sharing the findings verbally in a meeting, via email, or by disseminating them to team leaders will assure your employees that their concerns have been heard. The method you use should go with what works for your company.
- Create and act on the plan
You’ve received and shared survey responses with your workers, so the next item on the list is to create a plan that will serve as a blueprint to guide your actions. Make your employees part of this process by asking them for suggestions and ideas to improve weak points.
To avoid getting overwhelmed, identify a few areas you plan to work on and build from there. Creating and acting on the plan will improve engagement, because employees will be encouraged to engage in more surveys if they realize you're taking steps to address their concerns.
- Let Crewhu help you
If you're looking for that perfect platform to help you conduct employee surveys that promote engagement and increase retention, Crewhu is here to help by empowering your team with tools that let you focus on the metrics that matter, foster a company culture of recognition and collaboration to retain and incentivize your teams, and provide outstanding customer interactions. This, in turn, improves engagement, retention, and inclusion for a work culture you can be proud of.
Book a demo today to learn how we can transform your company through surveys and other employee engagement methods.
