Is your team engaged in their work? Are they excited about what they’re working on and focused on how to continue growing in your company? Or are they checked out, putting in just enough effort to complete work then wondering if it’s time to jump ship?

It's hard to tell without asking the right questions. And if you're going to invest time and energy into running an employee engagement survey, you need to ask questions that actually matter. Questions that uncover real issues and tell you what employees actually feel. 

So what do these employee feedback questions look like and are there specific frameworks to use when conducting surveys? 

That's what this blog answers. Let's dive in.

Why employee engagement surveys matter (and why most fail)

Employee engagement in the U.S. dropped to 31% in 2024, according to Gallup. That means roughly 7 out of 10 employees are just going through the motions at work. Employee engagement stats also show that 4 out of 10 employees in the US report their job having a negative impact on their mental health. 

Since teams in the top quartile for engagement see massive increases in in productivity, profitability, and customer satisfaction, this lack of engagement is costing companies dearly. 

But if workers are so disengaged, why do most engagement surveys fail to catch these problems?

But when organizations ask the right questions and actually act on the answers, engagement surveys become one of the most powerful tools you have for building a better workplace.  

The Gallup Q12: The best employee engagement survey template

The Gallup Q12 is the gold standard for measuring employee engagement, and for good reason.

It's made of 12 questions and they are organized into four levels of employee needs, from basic clarity at the bottom to personal growth at the top, with each level building on the one before it. It's a bit like Maslow's hierarchy, but for the workplace.

And the results speak for themselves. Teams in the top quartile for engagement see 23% higher profitability, 18% higher sales productivity, and 51% less turnover in low-turnover organizations. They also experience fewer safety incidents, quality defects, and absenteeism.

The 12 employee engagement survey questions from Gallup's framework

The Q12 covers four levels: Basic Needs (knowing what's expected and having the right materials), Individual Contribution (opportunities to excel and receive recognition), Teamwork (caring relationships and quality-focused colleagues), and Growth (development opportunities and meaningful progress discussions).

I have the materials and equipment I need to do my work right.

At work, I have the opportunity to do what I do best every day.

In the last seven days, I have received recognition or praise for doing good work.

My supervisor, or someone at work, seems to care about me as a person.

There is someone at work who encourages my development.

The mission or purpose of my company makes me feel my job is important.

My associates or fellow employees are committed to doing quality work.

In the last six months, someone at work has talked to me about my progress.

This last year, I have had opportunities at work to learn and grow.

Some of these questions are very specific and drill down into time periods "In the last seven days" and "in the last six months." These are designed to measure real, recent experiences rather than vague feelings.

While using this survey template, you can use a 1-5 or 1-10 numeric scale, but the concept is the same. Employees provide answers on each question( Strongly Agree, Agree, Neither Agree nor Disagree, Disagree, Strongly Disagree) and the responses are scored.

This is a good starting point for building your engagement survey template

Employee engagement questions that measure job satisfaction

Job satisfaction is an important baseline. If employees are happy at work and the job they do, productivity jumps. But the reverse can't be fixed with pizza parties and team bonuses.

These questions dig into if employees find their work meaningful, if they're using their skills effectively, and if they feel good about what they accomplish each day. 

On a scale of 1-5 (Strongly Disagree to Strongly Agree):

I find my work meaningful and fulfilling.

My role aligns well with my strengths and skills.

I have the opportunity to do work that interests me.

I understand how my work contributes to the company's goals.

My role meets the expectations I had when I started.

I feel a sense of accomplishment from the work I do.

What aspects of your role bring you the most satisfaction? What would make your day-to-day work more fulfilling?

The answers here can tell you if you have people in the wrong roles, if workloads are out of balance, or if there's a disconnect between what someone thought the job would be and what it actually is.

Employee survey questions that reveal management and leadership gaps

These questions help you figure out where your management is strong and where it's falling short. 

My manager communicates clear expectations for my work.

I receive regular, actionable feedback from my manager.

My manager supports my professional development.

I feel comfortable sharing concerns or ideas with my manager.

Senior leadership communicates the company's direction clearly.

I believe senior leadership acts in alignment with company values.

What's one thing your manager does well? What's one thing they could improve?

Questions to uncover growth and development needs

Nearly 50% of employees will leave their job if they don't get adequate training opportunities. 

Does your workplace have employee satisfaction when it comes to training and career development? These questions will help you find out. 

I have opportunities to learn and grow in my current role.

I can see a clear path for career advancement at this company.

Someone at work actively encourages my development.

I've had meaningful conversations about my career goals in the past six months.

The company invests in training and development programs.

I have access to the resources I need to develop new skills.

I feel challenged by my work in a positive way.

What skills or experiences would help you grow in your career? What's holding you back from developing them?

Questions that gauge company culture and values alignment

Changing company culture can take up to 3 years, according to Kamwell's research. But before companies set out to change culture, it's always important to understand what employees think. For example, you may be displaying workplace safety quotes in the break room. But is there a culture of safety?

These questions help you spot workplace culture problems early.

I feel a strong sense of belonging at this company.

The company's mission and values are meaningful to me.

Leadership's actions align with the company's stated values.

This company values diversity and inclusion.

People here collaborate well across teams.

I would recommend this company as a great place to work.

Describe the company culture in three words. What's one thing that would make it better?

Questions that identify work-life balance issues

Burned out employees are less productive, more likely to make mistakes, more likely to call in sick, and way more likely to quit. And the worst part is by the time you notice someone's burned out, they've probably been struggling for months.

That's why gauging employee sentiment around overwhelm and burnout is critical.

These questions can help catch work-life balance problems early.

My workload is manageable within normal working hours.

I can take time off when I need it without feeling guilty.

The company supports work-life balance through its policies and culture.

I feel respected when I set boundaries around my time.

Discover research-backed employee engagement survey questions that reveal how your team truly feels. Based on proven frameworks like Gallup Q12, these examples help you gather insights that drive real change.

58 Proven Employee Engagement Survey Questions for Valuable Insights

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58 Proven Employee Engagement Survey Questions for Valuable Insights

58 Proven Employee Engagement Survey Questions for Valuable Insights

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