In recent years, the focus on employee wellness has become a high priority. Companies are highlighting the great impact that a happy and  healthy workforce can have on productivity, engagement, and overall success. Employee wellness surveys help understand the current state of employee wellness and get ideas for its improvement. That is why they have become so important in recent years. These surveys help you understand the current state of people’s wellness and get ideas for improvement. 

What is an employee wellness survey

An employee wellness survey is a structured list of questions with a focus of gathering insights into various aspects of an employee’s wellbeing; their physical, mental, and social wellbeing. These surveys are sent periodically to the workforce, allowing companies to monitor changes in employee concerns and needs over time. Employee wellness surveys help you measure organizational climate.

Employee wellness surveys are especially important when designing effective employee wellness programs. These surveys identify specific areas of improvement and help tailoring initiatives to address the unique needs and concerns of the employees. By actively involving employees in the process and fostering open communication, companies can create wellness programs that really have a positive impact.

What are the goals of an employee wellness survey

  • Managing conflict in time: companies can identify potential issues before they become bigger problems. This approach to risk management helps foster a positive company culture.
  • Addressing mental health concerns: preserving mental health is a high priority when assessing employee wellbeing. Employee wellness surveys always include questions that delve into mental health, like stress levels or workload.
  • Identifying areas of improvement: employee wellness surveys act as a diagnostic tool. Whether it’s paying attention to concerns related to physical workspace, mental health support, or overall job satisfaction, these surveys will tell us what we have to put effort on.
  • Fostering a positive workplace culture: company culture plays a pivotal role in enhancing the employee experience. Employee wellness surveys assess aspects related to social wellbeing, exploring their sense of belonging to the workplace. 
  • Making data driven decisions: employee wellness surveys provide organizations with the  data-driven insights they need to make informed decisions. This data enables organizations to prioritize initiatives based on the specific needs and concerns of their employees.
  • Promoting a healthy work-life balance: employee wellness surveys seek to understand how employees perceive their work-life balance. You can discover whether existing policies and practices within your company support this equilibrium. 
  • Enhancing employee engagement: by launching employee wellness surveys, organizations can  identify factors that contribute to or hinder engagement. As well as implement targeted strategies to enhance overall employee engagement.

Employee wellness surveys are strategic instruments for cultivating a workplace culture that prioritizes and enhances employee wellbeing. Their goals go beyond addressing immediate concerns. They look for the creation of an environment where employees thrive, engage, and contribute the overall success

100 Employee wellness survey questions

When designing an employee wellness survey, crafting the right survey questions is crucial to collect meaningful insights. We must take into account the various aspects we can delve into related to employee wellness and include questions to address them all.

  1. Physical wellness
  2. Mental wellness
  3. Work-life balance
  4. Job satisfaction
  5. Social wellbeing
  6. Workplace climate 
  7. Career development
  8. Health and wellness facilities
  9. Remote work
  10. Employee wellness programs already implemented

Employee wellness survey questions on physical wellness

    1. How would you rate your overall physical health from 1 to 10?
    2. How often do you engage in physical activity during the workday?
    3. Do you usually take breaks throughout the day to stretch?
    4. How often do you participate in physical activities outside of work hours?
    5. How many hours of sleep do you usually get per night on workdays?
    6. Do you experience sleeplessness because of work?
    7. Are you satisfied with the ergonomics of your workspace (desk, chair, monitor brackets, etc.)?
    8. Are you satisfied with the lighting and ventilation in your workspace?
    9. Do you experience any kind of pain related to your work environment (back pain, eye strain, etc.)?
    10. Do you consider the workplace environment promotes safety and well-being?
    11. Are there any physical health concerns that impact your performance?
    12. Would you be interested in programs focused on physical wellness?

Employee wellness survey questions on mental wellness

    1. How would you rate your overall mental health from 1 to 10?
    2. Do you have access to mental health resources at work?
    3. Would you take advantage of assistance services if your company offered them (psychologists, psychiatrists, etc.)?
    4. Have you ever shared any mental health concerns with your manager?
    5. Have you ever shared any mental health concerns with a colleague?
    6. Do you feel supported when managing stress within the workplace?
    7. Is there something in particular that stresses you the most about work?
    8. Are there any mental health concerns that impact your performance?
    9. Would you be interested in programs focused on mental wellness?

Employee wellness survey questions on work-life balance

    1. How would you rate your work-life balance from 1 to 10?
    2. Do you have time to take breaks during the day?
    3. Do you have flexibility to adequate your work schedule to your personal responsibilities? 
    4. Can you take time off when you need it?
    5. Can you manage your workload during working hours effectively?
    6. Do you feel pressured to work outside your working hours?
    7. Do you feel pressured to answer emails or messages out of working hours?
    8. Can you disconnect from work-related issues when you’re not at work?
    9. Would you be interested in programs focused on work-life balance?
    10. Do you have any ideas in mind that you’d like to see included in this kind of program?

Employee wellness survey questions on job satisfaction

    1. On a scale of 1 to 10, how satisfied are you with your current role and responsibilities?
    2. Do you feel your work is challenging for you?
    3. What aspects of your job are the most fulfilling?
    4. What aspects of your job are the least exciting?
    5. Is there any particular aspect of your work that you would like to change?
    6. How well does your job align with your skills and capabilities?
    7. Do you have the resources and tools needed to perform your job effectively?
    8. Have you had the chance to access opportunities for career growth and development?
    9. Do you feel recognized and appreciated for your work and achievement?
    10. How would you rate the level of autonomy you have at work?
    11. Are you satisfied with the frequency of feedback you receive from your manager?
    12. Are you satisfied with the frequency of feedback you receive from your colleagues?
    13. How often do you feel like you have had a bad day at work?

Employee wellness survey questions on social wellbeing

    1. On a scale of 1 to 10, how connected do you feel to your colleagues?
    2. Do you feel you have enough opportunities for social interaction and team building events?
    3. Do you feel there’s transparent and open communication within your company?
    4. To what extent do you feel a sense of collaboration and fellowship among team members?
    5. Have you detected any concerns regarding colleagues’ relationships that you would like to change?
    6. Do you usually engage with your colleagues in activities outside working hours?
    7. Do you feel supported by your team when facing challenges?
    8. Do you feel comfortable sharing your opinion and suggestions with your colleagues?
    9. Do you feel your team has a strong sense of purpose to achieve common goals?
    10. Would you like to have access to more activities to socialize with your colleagues?

Employee wellness survey questions on workplace climate

    1. On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate the overall workplace climate at your company?
    2. Do you feel your colleagues feel stressed or overwhelmed?
    3. Do you feel there’s a shared feeling of camaraderie among colleagues?
    4. Would you say the company fosters a culture of respect, diversity and inclusion?
    5. Do you believe your opinions and contributions to the company are valued among your colleagues?
    6. Do you feel comfortable sharing your concerns and suggestions or providing feedback about your company?
    7. Do you feel the company recognizes achievements and good work at the right time?

Employee wellness survey questions on career development

    1. How satisfied are you with the opportunities for professional development offered by your company?
    2. Do you think your current role allows you to develop your career goals?
    3. Do you feel your managers help you in improving your skills?
    4. Do you feel your company supports you in pursuing further education?
    5. Do you have access to the coaching programs you need?
    6. Do you have the chance to explore different tasks, roles or departments?
    7. Are there career development plans at your disposal within your team?
    8. How well does your company communicate new opportunities for training and development?
    9. Do you think the feedback received in your performance reviews is valuable?
    10. Are there specific training you would like to carry out?

Employee wellness survey questions on health and wellness facilities

    1. On a scale 1 to 10, how would you rate the onsite fitness facilities and wellness rooms available?
    2. Do you think there’s enough variety of facilities at your disposal?
    3. How often do you utilize these facilities?
    4. How satisfied are you with the availability and timing of wellness facilities?
    5. Do you think the company’s wellness facilities help create a healthier work environment?
    6. Do you think the wellness facilities take into account all employees’ needs?
    7. How likely is it that you recommend your company’s wellness facilities to another colleague?
    8. What other initiatives, facilities or activities would you like to see implemented in the future?

Employee wellness survey questions on remote work

    1. On a scale of 1 to 10, how satisfied are you with the remote work policies and support provided?
    2. Are you satisfied with your current remote work setup?
    3. Do you have access to the resources you need to work comfortably?
    4. Do you feel remote work has an impact on your work-life balance?
    5. Are you satisfied with the flexibility in your work hours when working remotely?
    6. Have you found any challenges in balancing remote work and personal life?
    7. Do you feel supported enough in terms of technology and collaboration tools?
    8. How well does your company communicate updates in policies to remote employees?
    9. Even working remotely, do you feel connected to your team and other colleagues?
    10. Do you feel there are enough chances for social connection?
    11. Given the option, would you like to continue working remotely, going to the office or working in a hybrid model?
    12. Do you believe there are other measures your company  should implement to support remote employees?

Employee wellness survey questions about satisfaction with the wellness programs implemented.

    1. On a scale of 1 to 10, how satisfied are you with the current wellness programs in your company?
    2. Do you usually participate in the wellness programs offered by the company?
    3. Have you received enough information to participate in the wellness activities offered by your company?
    4. Do you feel the wellness programs align with your personal wellness goals?
    5. Do you believe the current wellness programs contribute to a more positive workplace?
    6. Are you satisfied with the timing and periodicity of the wellness programs?
    7. Do you think the wellness programs implemented by the company take into account all diverse needs that exist among the employees?
    8. Do you have any suggestions of new wellness programs to implement?
    9. Do you have any ideas of how the company can better support your overall wellbeing?

How to measure wellbeing at work

A traffic signal showing the way to employee wellness

When it comes to measuring wellbeing at work, employee wellness surveys become a valuable tool. These surveys enable organizations to understand the overall health and satisfaction level of their employees. 

But, how do we conduct effective employee wellness surveys to effectively measure wellbeing at work?

  1. Define goals and scope. 
  2. Choose a reliable survey platform.
  3. Design inclusive surveys.
  4. Ensure anonymity.
  5. Communicate clearly.
  6. Encourage participation.
  7. Analize the results.
  8. Develop action plans and implement improvements.
  9. Monitor progress and iterate.

1. Define goals and scope

Before launching your wellness survey you have to define the objectives and scope of your survey. Consider the aspects of wellbeing you want to address, such as the ones outlined above.

At this step you can also determine the frequency of your surveys and identify metrics or key performance indicators that align with your organization’s goals. This will help you align your employee wellness goals with the company goals to understand the impact wellbeing has on overall success.

2. Choose a reliable survey platform

Not all platforms will serve your needs. Selecting a reliable platform to send your employee wellness surveys will make a difference in having a smooth and easy process. Consider that it is also essential for collecting accurate and actionable data.

Look for platforms that offer customizable survey templates, anonymity features, automation options and user-friendly interfaces, like Nailted. In this way the process will be much easier and employee participation will be greater.

3. Design inclusive surveys

Preparing inclusive survey questions is key to obtaining meaningful insights. As we previously mentioned, ensure that your questions cover various aspects of wellbeing. Remember that you have a list of questions and the dimensions to cover in the previous section. We recommend using a mix of likert scale, multiple-choice, and open-ended questions. In this way you’ll gather both quantitative and qualitative data.

But the most important of all, create a survey that is inclusive and respectful to all employees, acknowledging the diverse perspectives that exist within your workforce.

4. Ensure anonymity

When preparing employee surveys gathering honest feedback is key. Showing employees they can send honest and open feedback, guaranteeing anonymity and confidentiality of survey responses will ensure better participation. Assure employees that their input will be treated with discretion.

It’s also important to highlight that their feedback will be used for the only purpose of improving as a company to create a better employee experience. Build trust and foster a culture of honesty and transparency by emphasizing the confidential nature of your surveys.

5. Communicate clearly

Effective communication is the key to success. When launching your survey, communicate its purpose, the benefits of participating, and the actions that will be taken based on the results to employees.

Always highlight the message that employee wellbeing is a priority for the company. This will make employees understand that their input is invaluable in shaping a healthier and more positive work environment.

6. Encourage participation

Emphasize the impact that their feedback can have on changing, adding and improving company policies, practices and initiatives. You can use a variety of communication channels, such as email, intranet, and team meetings, to reach all employees and motivate them to participate in the process.

7. Analyze the results

When evaluating results it is highly important to identify trends and areas of concern. Consider segmenting the results by departments, groups of people or teams to gain deeper insights into specific areas of the organization. If you don’t want to do this process manually, you can always count on a tool to analyze your employee surveys results, like Nailted.

8. Develop action plans and implement improvements

Translating the insights into action is possibly the most difficult . Develop action plans based on the survey results, outlining specific initiatives to address identified areas for improvement. Prioritize initiatives that will have a meaningful impact on employee wellbeing and communicate these plans transparently to the workforce.

9. Monitor progress and iterate

Working on employee wellness is an ongoing strategy. Therefore, monitoring progress over time is crucial for ongoing improvement. Implement regular check-ins and follow-up surveys to assess the impact of the changes. Use the feedback gathered to iterate on existing initiatives and implement new ones.

Above everything, always remember that prioritizing employee wellness is not just a strategic advantage. Prioritizing employee wellness is a commitment to preserving the health and satisfaction of its most valuable asset – its people.