In 2021, a survey revealed that employee well-being was high on the agenda for 75% of senior leaders. However, knowing where to start is not always easy. And, more often than not, leaders only focus on obvious ways to boost engagement and morale, such as introducing more company perks.
But the reality is that there is no better way to find out how your employees feel about working for your company than, well, by asking them. An employee well-being survey allows you to hear straight from the horse’s mouth and get a clear picture of how your business is living up to its promises and values.
In this guide, we explore:
What employee well-being actually means
Why your business should prioritise well-being
What a good questionnaire looks like
So, What Is Employee Well-Being?
A number of years ago, you may not have heard of the term ‘employee well-being’. Today, it is a concept used by many businesses to measure the mental, physical, emotional and economic health of their teams.
When we think of well-being, eating the right foods, getting enough sleep and regularly exercising immediately come to mind. But wellness is much more than that, especially in the workplace. Wellness in business is influenced by a number of factors, from office culture and relationships to workplace safety and pay.
Of course, this will vary from employee to employee. But ultimately, every business should strive to achieve an average that allows for a positive and productive working environment.
Why Does Wellness Matter In The Workplace?
Implementing effective well-being initiatives is just as important as growing your business. After all, your team is your most valuable resource and if you want to reach new heights, you will need to take them with you. The benefits of employee wellness include:
1. Increased Productivity
While increased productivity is one of the main goals for many businesses, it should not come at the expense of employee morale. Instead of leading your people into a rat race of joyless production, you need to make sure that employees feel valued and find meaning in their work.
Improving the wellness of your people can make a world of difference. It is no secret that happy employees make productive ones. Research shows that when employees are happy, productivity can increase by up to 20%.
2. Lower Employee Turnover
The last thing any company wants is a revolving door of employees. High employee turnover is bad for workplace morale and can put pressure on remaining employees to manage extra responsibilities and workloads. Not to mention, this can lead to increased recruitment costs and lost sales.
By making well-being a priority, you can lift morale and lower turnover rates. This will help you strengthen your culture and keep your top talent on board.
3. Attract New Talent
Well-being not only plays a role in retaining talent but also in recruiting new talent. If you can show potential candidates that you care about them as a person and not just what they can offer your business, you increase the chances of them accepting your offer to join your team.
4. Improved Brand Image
Employee well-being can do wonders for your brand image. Yes, it is important that employees view your business as a fantastic place to work. But equally, your customers and clients should share the same view. At the end of the day, this will influence their decision to work with or buy from your business.
How Is It Assessed?
It is fair to say that it is not always easy to get employees to vocalise how they really feel. But thankfully, an employee survey provides anonymity. This allows employees to be honest without worrying about the consequences. The more data you can collect from an employee survey, the more effective your well-being strategy will be. Generally, wellness in the workplace is assessed based on the following factors:
Demographics – Factors such as age, race and gender can influence well-being
Future – Job insecurity can have an impact on well-being, leading to feelings of anxiety
Hybrid Working – This can help employees achieve the right work-life balance
Teamwork – Human connection is important and a lack of it can hurt performance and engagement
Well-being – Your commitment to well-being initiatives can impact how valued your team feels
Culture – Employees should feel that your company is a good place to work
Reward and recognition – The more valued employees feel, the happier they will be
Diversity and inclusion – If your company is not taking steps to make your workforce more diverse, you could end up alienating certain employees
Voice – It is important that employees feel comfortable expressing their opinions and views
Leadership – Strong relationships between line managers and employees can help your company flourish
What Questions Are Included In An Employee Survey?
It is difficult to provide a clear-cut answer as this will depend on what your business is looking to assess. While it may seem easier to choose an off-the-shelf template, it is best to tailor your survey to your team. To help you decide which areas your survey should cover, here are some examples of the questions that employees may be asked.
Demographic Questions
1. Which country do you live in?
2. How old are you?
3. What is your race?
Future-Related Questions
1. How secure do you feel in your position at the company?
2. How often do you think about looking for a role at another company?
3. Are you on board with the changes taking place at your company?
Hybrid Working Questions
1. Has hybrid working has a positive impact on your engagement?
2. How has hybrid working impacted your work-life balance?
3. Has hybrid working affected your productivity?
Teamwork Questions
1. Do you have friends at work?
2. How important is it to you to have friends at work?
3. Do you feel that it is important to enjoy working with your colleagues?
Well-Being Questions
1. Is your employer committed to your wellness?
2. What is the biggest threat to your work-life balance?
3. What can your employer do to support workplace well-being?
Learning And Development Questions
1. Do you feel that your work is valuable?
2. Do you know what you need to do to be successful in your role?
3. Do you feel excited about where your career is going in the business?
Culture Questions
1. Would you recommend your company as a good place to work?
2. Can your company improve its culture?
3. Do you feel comfortable working in the company culture?
Reward And Recognition Questions
1. Are there enough systems in place to recognise employees?
2. Do you feel appreciated and valued for your work?
3. Do you value the benefits offered?
Diversity And Inclusion
1. Is the business taking steps to attract and retain a more diverse workforce?
2. What do diversity and inclusion mean to you?
3. Do you feel like you belong at the company?
Voice Questions
1. Does the business welcome different ways of thinking?
2. Do your employer’s values align with your own?
3. Do your colleagues welcome different perspectives?
Leadership Questions
1. Does your manager trust you?
2. Does your manager offer constructive feedback?
3. Is your manager a good role model?
Generally, questions are scored on a Likert scale from strongly agree to strongly disagree. Though, some questions will require employees to provide more detailed responses. If your scores are lower in certain areas, it is best to seek advice from an HR professional. For example, if you score low in an area like diversity and inclusion, a specialist can carry out further culture reviews and focus group discussions to pinpoint how your business can move forward. To learn more, read our guide on how to promote equality in the workplace.
Let Us Help You
Not sure where to start? There is no need to worry. We have developed a customisable employee well-being survey so your business can transform its wellness strategy.
To learn more about how your business can make positive changes, read our guide on supporting mental health at work. And, if you need a helping hand, simply call us on 020 8016 3029 or drop an email to info@pace-hr.com today.
