How to prevent decline in employee survey participation
Employee surveys are an important tool for understanding and improving the employee experience, but declining participation rates can undermine their effectiveness. There are several reasons why participation rates may drop, including change fatigue, survey fatigue, lack of trust, poor communication, and poor timing. To prevent decline in participation rates, it is important to understand these factors andtake steps to address them.
Change fatigue
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
When employees feel that participating in a survey is pointless because nothing has changed as a result of previous surveys, they are less likely to participate. Effective communication is key to addressing this issue. Before launching a survey, clearly communicate the benefits of participation, the purpose of the survey, and how results will be used. Be transparent about who will see the results and who is responsible for taking action. When changes are made based on survey results, communicate these changes clearly to employees.
Survey fatigue
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Too many, lengthy, or ineffective surveys can cause survey fatigue, which can lead to declining participation rates. To avoid this, design your surveys with action in mind, and ensure that questions are clear, non-complex, and relevant to employees' experiences at work. Use the data from previous surveys to guide the design of future surveys and to identify areas for improvement.
Lack of trust
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
A lack of trust is one of the most damaging reasons for declining participation rates. Trust can be eroded by leadership behaviour, lack of respect, lack of transparency, and inconsistency in decision-making. It is important to include questions about these factors in your employee surveys to identify issues and address them. The most important factor in building trust is confidentiality. If employees do not trust that their responses will be kept confidential, participation rates will plummet.
Communication
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Effective communication is essential to maintaining participation rates. Keep employees well informed about the results of previous surveys and share findings via a report or webinar. Use the results to identify focus areas for improvement and motivate employees to participate in future surveys.
Timing
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
The timing of a survey also impacts your participation rates. If the survey is launched during a particularly busy or stressful time for employees, such as the end of the financial year or during holidays, participants may be less able to participate, or their work will take priority.
What can you do?
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Having a clear focus and vision for an employee listening programme helps provide clarity, direction and motivation for all involved.
A focus on questionnaire design that includes all key stakeholders can help you design surveys that are relevant, easy to understand, and keep the survey length to a suitable duration.
Enabling managers to understand the importance of employee experience and listening take action and accountability for survey change leads to positive results.
Empowerment of local managers and teams to drive improvement suggestions and change from any survey is critical to buy-in and the ultimate success of any listening programme.
