Employee Satisfaction Surveys in the Workplace

Abstract

Employee satisfaction or job satisfaction is, quite simply, how content or satisfied employees are with their jobs. Many experts believe that one of the best ways to maintain satisfaction is to make workers feel like part of a family or team. Of course, few workers will not experience a boost in morale after receiving more money. Raises and bonuses can seriously affect employee satisfaction, and should be given when possible. But, if possible, companies should provide other amenities to their workers. The first employee surveys, commonly known as employee-attitude surveys, surfaced in industrial companies in the 1920’s. Nowadays, many organizations have began to conduct employee surveys and there has been a hodgepodge of employee surveys: employee opinion surveys, employee feedback surveys, culture surveys, employee satisfaction surveys etc. Many organizations conduct their own surveys, contract with a survey provider, or use a combination of both. Main-line survey providers have traditionally used similar survey question types and survey length over the course of years and throughout various industries, giving them what they call “comparison databases”. Most organizations measure employee satisfaction by measuring for communication, performance management, motivation, learning and development, satisfaction with the physical work environment and work processes. According to research done in the UK by Nasrecruitment, 2013, Compensation/pay was rated as “very important” by 60% of employees in 2013, making it the top contributor to overall employee job satisfaction. This paper also discusses the benefits of employee satisfaction surveys, data analysis in employee satisfaction surveys and recommendations for good employee satisfaction surveys. It concludes by the credence that, for surveys to actually drive business results, organizations have to follow the three A’s of employee satisfaction surveys. This is annual, accountable and action.