How to Create the Best Employee Engagement Survey in 2025 (60 Question Examples)

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AhaSlides團隊 30 10月,2025 11 閱讀

Creating an effective employee engagement survey isn't just about asking "Are you happy at work?" and calling it a day. The best surveys reveal exactly where your team is thriving—and where they're quietly disengaging before it's too late.

In this comprehensive guide, you'll discover how to build engagement surveys that actually drive change, with 60+ proven questions organised by category, expert frameworks from Gallup and leading HR researchers, and practical steps to turn feedback into action.

the state of employee engagement

➡️ 快速導航:


What is an Employee Engagement Survey?

An employee engagement survey measures how emotionally committed your employees are to their work, team, and organisation. Unlike satisfaction surveys (which measure contentment), engagement surveys assess:

  • 熱情 for daily work
  • 校準 with company mission
  • 願意 to go above and beyond
  • Intent to stay 長期

According to Gallup's extensive research spanning over 75 years and 50 diverse industries, engaged employees drive better performance outcomes across organisations (蓋洛普)

The business impact: When organisations measure and improve engagement, they see increased productivity, stronger employee retention, and improved customer loyalty (Qualtrics). Yet only 1 in 5 employees are fully engaged (ADP), representing a massive opportunity for companies that get this right.


Why Most Employee Engagement Surveys Fail

Before we dive into creating your survey, let's address why so many organisations struggle with employee engagement initiatives:

常見陷阱:

  1. Survey fatigue without action: Many organisations implement surveys as a checkbox exercise, failing to take meaningful action on feedback, which leads to cynicism and reduced future participation (LinkedIn)
  2. Anonymity confusion: Employees often confuse confidentiality with anonymity—while responses may be collected confidentially, leadership may still be able to identify who said what, particularly in smaller teams (堆棧交易所)
  3. Generic one-size-fits-all approach: Off-the-shelf surveys using different questions and methodologies make results difficult to compare and may not address your organisation's specific challenges (LinkedIn)
  4. No clear follow-through plan: Organisations must earn the right to solicit employee input by demonstrating that feedback is valued and acted upon (ADP)

The 3 Dimensions of Employee Engagement

Based on Kahn's research model, employee engagement operates across three interconnected dimensions:

1. 身體接觸

How employees show up—their behaviours, attitudes, and visible commitment to their work. This includes both physical and mental energy brought to the workplace.

2. 認知參與

How well employees understand their role's contribution to long-term strategy and feel their work matters to organisational success.

3. 情感投入

The sense of belonging and connection employees feel as part of the organisation—this is the foundation of sustainable engagement.

3 Dimensions of Employee Engagement

The 12 Elements of Employee Engagement (Gallup's Q12 Framework)

Gallup's scientifically validated Q12 engagement survey consists of 12 items proven to link to greater performance outcomes (蓋洛普). These elements build upon each other hierarchically:

基本需求:

  1. I know what is expected of me at work
  2. I have the materials and equipment I need to do my work right

Individual contribution:

  1. At work, I have the opportunity to do what I do best every day
  2. In the last seven days, I have received recognition or praise for doing good work
  3. My supervisor, or someone at work, seems to care about me as a person
  4. There is someone at work who encourages my development

團隊合作:

  1. At work, my opinions seem to count
  2. The mission or purpose of my company makes me feel my job is important
  3. My associates (fellow employees) are committed to doing quality work
  4. I have a best friend at work

成長:

  1. In the last six months, someone at work has talked to me about my progress
  2. This last year, I have had opportunities at work to learn and grow

60+ Employee Engagement Survey Questions by Category

A thoughtful structure—grouped by themes that directly affect engagement—helps uncover where employees are thriving and where blockers exist (跳躍體). Here are battle-tested questions organised by key engagement drivers:

Leadership & Management (10 Questions)

Use a 5-point scale (Strongly Disagree to Strongly Agree):

  1. My supervisor provides clear direction and expectations
  2. I have confidence in senior leadership's decision-making
  3. Leadership communicates openly about company changes
  4. My manager gives me regular, actionable feedback
  5. I receive the support I need from my direct supervisor
  6. Senior management demonstrates they care about employee well-being
  7. Leadership's actions align with the company's stated values
  8. I trust my manager to advocate for my career growth
  9. My supervisor recognises and appreciates my contributions
  10. Leadership makes me feel valued as an employee

Career Growth & Development (10 Questions)

  1. I have clear opportunities for advancement in this organisation
  2. Someone has discussed my career development in the last 6 months
  3. I have access to the training I need to grow professionally
  4. My role helps me develop skills valuable for my future
  5. I receive meaningful feedback that helps me improve
  6. There is someone at work who actively mentors or coaches me
  7. I see a clear path for progression in my career here
  8. The company invests in my professional development
  9. I have opportunities to work on challenging, growth-oriented projects
  10. My manager supports my career goals, even if they lead outside our team

Purpose & Meaning (10 Questions)

  1. I understand how my work contributes to company goals
  2. The company's mission makes me feel my job is important
  3. My work aligns with my personal values
  4. I feel proud to work for this organisation
  5. I believe in the products/services we deliver
  6. My daily tasks connect to something larger than myself
  7. The company makes a positive difference in the world
  8. I would recommend this company as a great place to work
  9. I'm excited to tell others where I work
  10. My role gives me a sense of accomplishment

Teamwork & Collaboration (10 Questions)

  1. My colleagues are committed to doing quality work
  2. I can count on my team members for support
  3. Information is shared openly across departments
  4. My team works well together to solve problems
  5. I feel comfortable expressing opinions in team meetings
  6. There's strong collaboration between departments
  7. People on my team treat each other with respect
  8. I have built meaningful relationships with coworkers
  9. My team celebrates successes together
  10. Conflicts are handled constructively on my team

Work Environment & Resources (10 Questions)

  1. I have the tools and equipment necessary to do my job well
  2. My workload is manageable and realistic
  3. I have flexibility in how I accomplish my work
  4. The physical/virtual work environment supports productivity
  5. I have access to the information I need to do my job
  6. Technology systems enable rather than hinder my work
  7. Processes and procedures make sense and are efficient
  8. I'm not overwhelmed by unnecessary meetings
  9. Resources are allocated fairly across teams
  10. The company provides adequate support for remote/hybrid work

Recognition & Rewards (5 Questions)

  1. I receive recognition when I do excellent work
  2. Compensation is fair for my role and responsibilities
  3. High performers are appropriately rewarded
  4. My contributions are valued by leadership
  5. The company recognises both individual and team achievements

Well-being & Work-Life Balance (5 Questions)

  1. I can maintain a healthy work-life balance
  2. The company genuinely cares about employee well-being
  3. I rarely feel burned out by my work
  4. I have adequate time off to rest and recharge
  5. Stress levels in my role are manageable

Engagement Indicators (Outcome Questions)

These go at the beginning as core metrics:

  1. On a scale of 0-10, how likely are you to recommend this company as a place to work?
  2. I see myself working here in two years
  3. I'm motivated to contribute beyond my basic job requirements
  4. I rarely think about looking for jobs at other companies
  5. I'm enthusiastic about my work

How to Design an Effective Employee Engagement Survey

1.設定明確的目標

Before creating questions, define:

  • What problems are you trying to solve?
  • 您將如何處理結果?
  • Who needs to be involved in action planning?

Without understanding the purpose, organisations risk spending resources on surveys without achieving meaningful improvements (Qualtrics)

2. Keep It Focused

Survey length guidelines:

  • Pulse surveys (quarterly): 10-15 questions, 5-7 minutes
  • Annual comprehensive surveys: 30-50 questions, 15-20 minutes
  • 始終包括: 2-3 open-ended questions for qualitative insights

Organisations increasingly conduct pulse surveys at quarterly or monthly intervals rather than relying solely on annual surveys (Qualtrics)

3. Design for Honesty

Ensure psychological safety:

  • Clarify confidentiality vs. anonymity upfront
  • For teams under 5 people, roll up results to protect identity
  • Allow anonymous question submission in live Q&A
  • Create culture where feedback is genuinely welcomed

經驗之談: Using a third-party platform like AhaSlides provides an additional layer of separation between respondents and leadership, encouraging more honest responses.

AhaSlides' live questions and answers feature

4. Use Consistent Rating Scales

Recommended scale: 5-point Likert

  • 強烈反對
  • 不同意
  • 中性
  • 同意
  • 非常同意

另一種方法: Net Promoter Score (eNPS)

  • "On a scale of 0-10, how likely are you to recommend this company as a place to work?"

For example, an eNPS of +30 might seem strong, but if your last survey scored +45, there may be issues worth investigating (跳躍體)

5. Structure Your Survey Flow

Optimal order:

  1. Introduction (purpose, confidentiality, estimated time)
  2. Demographic information (optional: role, department, tenure)
  3. Core engagement questions (grouped by theme)
  4. Open-ended questions (2-3 maximum)
  5. Thank you + next steps timeline

6. Include Strategic Open-Ended Questions

例子:

  • "What's one thing we should start doing to improve your experience?"
  • "What's one thing we should stop doing?"
  • "What's working well that we should continue?"

Analysing Results & Taking Action

Understanding and acting on employee feedback is critical to fostering a thriving company culture (跳躍體). Here's your post-survey action framework:

Phase 1: Analyse (Week 1-2)

尋找:

  • Overall engagement score vs. industry benchmarks
  • Category scores (which dimensions are strongest/weakest?)
  • 人口差異 (do certain teams/tenure groups differ significantly?)
  • Open-ended themes (what patterns emerge in comments?)

Use benchmarks: Compare your results against relevant industry and size category benchmarks from established databases (量子工作場所) to understand where you stand.

Phase 2: Share Results (Week 2-3)

透明度建立信任:

  • Share aggregate results with entire organisation
  • Provide team-level results to managers (if sample size permits)
  • Acknowledge both strengths AND challenges
  • Commit to specific follow-up timeline

Phase 3: Create Action Plans (Week 3-4)

The survey isn't the end—it's just the beginning. The goal is to start conversations between managers and employees (ADP)

框架:

  1. Identify 2-3 priority areas (don't try to fix everything)
  2. Form cross-functional action teams (including diverse voices)
  3. 設定具體的、可衡量的目標 (e.g., "Increase clear direction score from 3.2 to 4.0 by Q2")
  4. Assign owners and timelines
  5. Communicate progress regularly

Phase 4: Take Action & Measure (Ongoing)

  • Implement changes with clear communication
  • Conduct pulse surveys quarterly to track progress
  • Celebrate wins publicly
  • Iterate based on what works

By showing employees how their feedback has specific impact, organisations can increase engagement and reduce survey fatigue (ADP)


Why Use AhaSlides for Employee Engagement Surveys?

Creating engaging, interactive surveys that employees actually want to complete requires the right platform. Here's how AhaSlides transforms the traditional survey experience:

1.即時參與

Unlike static survey tools, AhaSlides makes surveys interactive:

  • 實時詞雲 to visualise collective sentiment
  • 實時結果 are displayed as responses come in
  • 匿名問答 for follow-up questions
  • Interactive scales that feel less like homework

用例: Run your engagement survey during a town hall, showing anonymised results in real-time to spark immediate discussion.

a poll made on AhaSlides

2. Multiple Response Channels

Meet employees where they are:

  • Mobile-responsive (no app download required)
  • QR code access for in-person sessions
  • Integration with virtual meeting platforms
  • Desktop and kiosk options for deskless workers

結果: Higher participation rates when employees can respond on their preferred device.

3. Built-In Anonymity Features

Address the #1 survey concern:

  • No login required (access via link/QR code)
  • Results privacy controls
  • Aggregate reporting that protects individual responses
  • Optional anonymous open-ended responses

4. Designed for Action

Beyond collection, drive results:

  • 匯出資料 to Excel/CSV for deeper analysis
  • 視覺化儀表板 that make results scannable
  • 演示模式 to share findings team-wide
  • 追蹤變更 across multiple survey rounds
ahaslides visual report dashboard

5. Templates to Get Started Fast

Don't start from scratch:

  • 預建 員工敬業度調查 模板
  • Customisable question banks
  • Best-practice frameworks (Gallup Q12, etc.)
  • Industry-specific modifications

Common Questions About Employee Engagement Surveys

How often should we conduct engagement surveys?

Leading organisations are shifting from annual surveys to more frequent pulse surveys—quarterly or even monthly—to stay connected with rapidly changing employee sentiment (Qualtrics). Recommended cadence:
+ Annual comprehensive survey: 30-50 questions covering all dimensions
+ Quarterly pulse surveys: 10-15 questions on targeted topics
+ Event-triggered surveys: After major changes (reorganisations, leadership transitions)

What's a good engagement survey response rate?

The highest organisational response rate recorded was 44.7%, with a goal to reach at least 50% (華盛頓州立大學). Industry standards:
+ 60%+: 優秀
+ 40-60%:好
+ <40%: Concerning (indicates lack of trust or survey fatigue)
Boost response rates by:
+ Leadership endorsement
+ Multiple reminder communications
+ Accessible during work hours
+ Previous demonstration of acting on feedback

What should be included in an employee engagement survey structure?

An effective survey includes: introduction and instructions, demographic information (optional), engagement statements/questions, open-ended questions, additional themed modules, and a conclusion with follow-up timeline.

How long should an employee engagement survey be?

Employee engagement surveys can range from 10-15 questions for pulse surveys to 50+ questions for comprehensive annual assessments (啊哈幻燈片). The key is respecting employees' time:
+ Pulse surveys: 5-7 minutes (10-15 questions)
+ Annual surveys: 15-20 minutes maximum (30-50 questions)
+ 一般規則: Every question should have a clear purpose


Ready to Create Your Employee Engagement Survey?

Building an effective employee engagement survey is both an art and a science. By following the frameworks outlined here—from Gallup's Q12 elements to thematic question design to action-planning processes—you'll create surveys that not only measure engagement but actively improve it.

Remember: The survey is just the beginning; the real work is in the conversations and actions that follow.

Start now with AhaSlides:

  1. 選擇一個模板 - Select from pre-built engagement survey frameworks
  2. 自訂 questions - Adapt 20-30% to your organisation's context
  3. Set up live or self-paced mode - Configure whether the participants need to answer right away or at any time they can
  4. 發佈會 - Share via link, QR code, or embed in your town hall
  5. Analyse & act - Export results, identify priorities, create action plans

🚀 Create Your Free Employee Engagement Survey

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