Find out what your people really think: How to maximize response rates to employee satisfaction surveys

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to describe the ways in which employers can maximize responses to their employee‐satisfaction surveys.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper deals, in turn, with each of the factors that determine response rates: engagement; involvement; relevance; experience; expectation; method; convenience; anonymity/confidentiality; the questionnaire itself; contentment; despair; incentives; urgency; reminders; and coercion.

Findings

The paper provides examples of good and bad practice, while revealing that there is no single “best way”.

Practical implications

The paper looks, in particular, at the differences between web‐based and paper questionnaires.

Originality/value

The paper provides plenty of useful information for employers to gain an accurate picture of employees' feelings about their experience at work.

Citation

Lusty, D. (2009), "Find out what your people really think: How to maximize response rates to employee satisfaction surveys", Human Resource Management International Digest, Vol. 17 No. 4, pp. 32-36. https://doi.org/10.1108/09670730910963325