The trusty employee survey has been a workplace staple for decades. So is it still relevant? You bet it is. Here’s why:
Far from being outdated, employee surveys have been keeping pace with the times – proving they have the staying power and ability to help companies ignite engagement, build culture, and drive meaningful change across the organisation.
At Source, we’ve seen first-hand just how powerful a tool they can be to leverage meaningful data that informs strategic business decisions. Just as importantly, a well-executed survey also helps your employees feel seen and heard. If you’re considering an employee survey, here’s what you stand to gain:
Unearth honest employee feedback
Employee surveys offer a safe, anonymous space for honest feedback, uncovering hidden workplace issues and boosting engagement, motivation, and productivity.
Identify and address workplace issues
Surveys help pinpoint challenges such as poor management, unclear job expectations, or lack of resources. By identifying these issues early, leadership can address them before they escalate, reducing turnover and creating a healthier work environment.
Enhance communication between employees and management
Employee surveys bridge the gap between staff and management, fostering open dialogue, transparency, and trust through meaningful action.
Measure job Satisfaction and retention risks
Understanding employee satisfaction is key to retaining top talent. Surveys help gauge how employees feel about their roles, work conditions, and company culture. This insight guides strategies to improve satisfaction and reduce turnover.
Drive performance and productivity
When people feel supported and valued, their productivity increases. Acting on survey feedback fosters a positive workplace, enhancing performance, teamwork, and efficiency.
Support diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives
They also support Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives by highlighting unique experiences and challenges faced by diverse groups.
A recent Forbes survey found that 88% of employers consider D&I initiatives essential to their success, with 80% having a positive view of their impact. Navigating diversity, equity and inclusion requires sensitivity and expertise. Anonymity is crucial to encourage honest feedback and avoid bias.
Improve leadership effectiveness
Feedback on management effectiveness, including communication, decision-making and support, enables organisations to refine leadership training and development, enhancing overall workforce performance.
So, with all that in mind, where should you concentrate your efforts to boost engagement, enhance employee satisfaction, and stay ahead of market trends?
Types of surveys to try in 2025
Here are some tried and tested surveys recommended by Source experts:
Lifecycle employee surveys
Employee lifecycle surveys can be conducted at critical stages of an employee’s journey within your organisation, such as during onboarding and at exit. These moments are pivotal for shaping the employee experience and can significantly impact retention and recruitment. Collecting standardised data at these stages enables your business to build effective processes, while also identifying and addressing potential issues before they escalate. Source HR can provide tailored lifecycle surveys to help you enhance employee experiences at every stage.
Employee engagement surveys
We all know that workplace culture significantly impacts employee satisfaction and productivity. Without speaking directly to your people, it can be very hard for leadership teams and HR professionals to accurately gauge culture. It’s also not a guarantee that you will get honest responses.
Source’s engagement surveys enable you to collect candid feedback and streamline best practices across the business, fostering a more cohesive and positive work environment. Engaged employees are more motivated, leading to better performance and overall organisational success.
Wellbeing surveys
Employee wellbeing is essential for productivity and retention. However, wellbeing needs vary greatly among individuals. Our wellbeing surveys help you understand what your team truly values, enabling you to tailor initiatives that maximise ROI and effectively support your workforce.
Employee surveys aren’t just a formality, or a throwback to the past. Done well, they reveal what’s working, where to improve, and how to better support your people. Just remember that the survey is just the starting point. Real, sustainable value comes from what happens next by taking action on the insights. Listening and acting on feedback builds a culture where employees feel valued and motivated. They also help inform strategic leadership decisions by shedding light on blind spots and bottlenecks. Get in touch with our HR experts to explore this further.
