Most of the time, a company should aim for a change rate of 10% or less, and 90% or more employee retention is considered ideal. But is this what really happens? Sadly, most companies are unable to retain their employees for longer periods of time. Why is this so? Is there absolutely no way to increase employee retention rates? Actually, there is. And this is exactly what we are going to discuss in today’s blog.

Why Employee Retention Matters?

Companies need to retain employees because losing them will instantly affect their security, output, and profits. Businesses with high retention rates keep helpful, competent employees on board. These employees add to the speed and expertise of the company and save time and money by not having to find, hire, and train new workers.

Retaining employees often makes them more motivated and engaged, which boosts total performance and makes the workplace a better place to be. Low change also helps keep customer interactions and service quality consistent, which makes customers happier and more loyal. In order to stay profitable and ahead of the competition, companies need to pay for plans that retain their employees.

Why employee retention matters?

1. The Financial Impact of Turnover

Employee turnover is costly—both directly and indirectly. The direct costs include expenses related to recruitment, hiring, and training new employees. According to the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), replacing an employee can cost an organization anywhere from six to nine months' worth of the departing employee's salary. For example, replacing an employee earning $60,000 annually could cost the company $30,000 to $45,000.

Indirect costs are equally significant, though often harder to quantify. These include lost productivity, decreased morale, and the potential strain on remaining employees who may need to pick up the slack while a new hire is being brought up to speed.

2. Impact on Team Dynamics and Morale

Frequent turnover disrupts team dynamics and can lead to decreased morale. When team members leave, it often creates a void that can disrupt workflows and collaboration. Remaining employees may feel overburdened by increased workloads or anxious about the stability of their jobs, leading to lower engagement and productivity.

3. Retention as a Competitive Advantage

Organizations with strong retention rates often enjoy a competitive advantage in the marketplace. They benefit from a stable and experienced workforce that can focus on long-term goals rather than being distracted by constant changes in personnel. Employees who stay longer with a company typically develop deeper expertise, stronger relationships with clients and colleagues, and a better understanding of the organization’s culture and processes.

4. Positively Impacts Customer Satisfaction and Business Performance

Employee retention has a direct impact on customer satisfaction and overall business performance. Employees who stay with a company longer are generally more knowledgeable and skilled in their roles, leading to better service delivery. High turnover, on the other hand, can lead to inconsistency in customer service, as new employees may take time to reach the same level of proficiency as their predecessors.

Satisfied employees are more likely to be engaged in their work and go the extra mile for customers, leading to higher levels of customer satisfaction. This can result in increased customer loyalty, positive word-of-mouth, and ultimately, higher revenues.

What is an Employee Retention Survey?

An employee retention survey is a strategic tool that organizations use to understand the key factors influencing employees' decisions to remain with or leave the company. The primary objective of this survey is to gauge overall employee happiness, engagement, and job satisfaction.

By analyzing the survey results, businesses can pinpoint specific areas of concern, identify trends, and develop targeted strategies to enhance employee retention. The main areas an employee retention survey focuses on:

  • Job Satisfaction
  • Work Environment
  • Compensation and Benefits
  • Career Development
  • Work-Life Balance
  • Management and Leadership
  • Employee Engagement
  • Organizational Culture

It is not just another routine survey you do to fill the survey quota of your organization. An employee retention survey actually has a ton of benefits:

  • Spotting Problems: This helps you find specific problems that might be making employees unhappy or leading them to leave.
  • Retaining Employees: Gives information to make targeted plans for keeping employees.
  • Improves Communication: Shows workers that the company cares about making good changes and values their input.
  • Benchmarking Progress: This feature lets businesses see how employee attitudes change over time and see how well their efforts to keep employees are working.

The Right Time To Use an Employee Retention Survey

Conducting an employee retention survey at the right time is crucial for obtaining meaningful insights and taking effective actions to improve retention rates. The time to conduct retention surveys is:

At Regular Intervals

Companies can track workplace dynamics and employee morale by conducting annual or semi-annual employee retention surveys. These surveys provide a consistent dataset that helps identify patterns and shifts in employee opinions.

Trend charts on ThriveSparrow's Employee Success Software helps monitor workplace culture, engagement, and retention across departments and reporting factors for set timelines.

Frequent surveys ensure timely, reliable reviews without bias from unexpected events. By adhering to a schedule, companies can monitor the effects of initiatives or revisions since the last survey. This consistency helps identify discontent and assess workplace culture. It also demonstrates to employees that their ideas are valued, fostering openness and growth. Staff members tend to be more honest when they know surveys will occur regularly.

Post-Onboarding

After onboarding, a retention survey can reveal how new hires are adjusting to the company culture and their initial experiences. Conducting this survey three to six months after hiring establishes a baseline for the employee's tenure. This is the perfect opportunity to gather feedback on urgent issues, highlighting areas for improvement and successes in the onboarding process.

Early feedback could indicate whether new hires feel supported, welcomed, and adequately trained. It also allows the company to address potential issues before they lead to turnover. This feedback can help streamline onboarding for future hires.

New recruits often bring fresh perspectives and expertise, and listening to them early fosters corporate loyalty. This survey shows new hires that their opinions matter right away, encouraging honest conversations and ongoing feedback in the workplace. Addressing concerns from post-onboarding surveys can improve new hire retention and team stability.

Before Major Changes

Conducting an employee retention survey before significant organizational changes helps management understand potential impacts on the workforce.

Major policy changes, mergers, or acquisitions can create unease among employees. Therefore, a pre-survey can identify key areas of resistance and concern, providing management with valuable insights into staff members' main worries and their readiness for change. This information can shape change management plans, enabling support systems and communications to better meet employees' needs.

After Major Changes

Following any significant change, a retention survey is crucial for assessing how personnel are coping and identifying new issues. This survey evaluates whether the changes have produced expected benefits or unforeseen drawbacks.

Employees can share their thoughts on recent changes, allowing management to understand their effects on morale, productivity, and engagement. This feedback can inform future policies and support initiatives that help employees adjust accordingly. It may also highlight areas requiring further investigation.

By conducting this survey even after major changes, companies reassure employees that their well-being remains a priority, emphasizing staff development and needs. Post-change feedback can also reveal the effectiveness of change management processes, making it easier to refine future transformation plans.

In Response to High Turnover

To identify the causes of rising personnel turnover, a retention survey can come in handy. High turnover often signals urgent corporate issues.

A timely survey can uncover factors contributing to employee dissatisfaction and attrition, such as workload, compensation, culture, management practices, or professional development opportunities.

Understanding these causes allows organizations to develop targeted solutions that stabilize the workforce and reduce talent departures. The survey also gives remaining employees a platform to voice their concerns and suggestions, assuring them that the company values their input and is committed to positive change.

During Engagement Initiatives

Incorporating an employee retention survey into engagement programs provides valuable insights into their effectiveness. While measuring real impact can be challenging, these initiatives aim to boost productivity, morale, and overall satisfaction.

A retention survey can determine whether these programs resonate with staff members and is achieving intended outcomes. This creates a feedback loop that allows companies to refine their engagement strategies.

Employees' responses may indicate which aspects of the programs they find most or least beneficial. Using this data enables organizations to allocate resources wisely and focus efforts on the most effective initiatives.

Moreover, analyzing sentiment of these responses can provide a granular picture of the intent behind those responses.

Sentiment Analysis on ThriveSparrow
Sentiment Analysis on ThriveSparrow lets HR and team managers delve deep into responses and understand intent on a more granular level.
Understanding sentiment on a microscopic level

After a Crisis or a Major Event

Conducting a retention survey is essential for assessing how a natural disaster, public relations issue, or economic downturn has affected personnel. As crises can significantly impact employee morale, security, and engagement.

Surveys provide a means for employees to share how such events have influenced their work and well-being while highlighting support needs and urgent issues that may not be visible otherwise. This feedback helps create crisis-specific action plans.

Understanding employee perspectives after a crisis aids in rebuilding trust and confidence in the organization while evaluating the effectiveness of communication and crisis management strategies. The survey can pinpoint areas where employee support requires additional resources or adjustments.

Responding to this feedback demonstrates that the organization cares about its employees while revealing long-term implications that necessitate strategic planning. Engaging staff in this way fosters corporate resilience and unity, stabilizing the workforce and setting the stage for growth and recovery.

Benchmarking Against Industry Standards

Companies should conduct retention surveys when industry standards or best practices in employee retention evolve to evaluate their performance against peers. Industry benchmarks help assess workforce retention rates and employee satisfaction levels. These criteria indicate whether the organization is keeping pace with industry trends as revealed by the survey results.

Before Strategic Planning

Before strategic planning meetings, conducting an employee retention survey can guide a company's direction. Understanding employee sentiments and retention factors helps align strategic goals with workforce needs. This input reveals strengths and weaknesses that inform subsequent strategic steps. This version emphasizes active voice throughout while maintaining clarity and coherence in your message.

Sample Retention Survey Questionnaire to Ask Employees

A. Job Satisfaction

Job satisfaction is a critical indicator of employee retention. Understanding how content your employees are with their roles, responsibilities, and overall work environment can help you identify areas that need improvement. Below are some targeted questions to gauge job satisfaction levels within your organization.

  1. How satisfied are you with your current role in the company? (Scale: Very Dissatisfied to Very Satisfied)
  2. Do you feel your skills are being effectively utilized in your current position? (Scale: Strongly Disagree to Strongly Agree)
  3. How often do you feel motivated to do your best work? (Options: Always, Often, Sometimes, Rarely, Never)
  4. Do you feel your workload is manageable? (Scale: Strongly Disagree to Strongly Agree)
  5. How likely are you to recommend your job to a friend or colleague? (Scale: Not Likely at All to Very Likely)

Open-Ended Questions

  1. What aspects of your job do you enjoy the most?
  2. What changes could improve your job satisfaction?

B. Career Growth and Development

Career growth and development are often key factors in an employee's decision to stay with or leave a company. Understanding your employees' perspectives on their opportunities for advancement and personal growth can reveal valuable insights into your retention strategies.

  1. Do you feel there are sufficient opportunities for professional growth in the company? (Scale: Strongly Disagree to Strongly Agree)
  2. Have you been given adequate training to succeed in your role? (Options: Yes, No, Somewhat)
  3. How satisfied are you with the career development resources available to you? (Scale: Very Dissatisfied to Very Satisfied)
  4. Do you have a clear understanding of your career path within the organization? (Options: Yes, No, Uncertain)
  5. How frequently do you have discussions about career growth with your manager? (Options: Monthly, Quarterly, Annually, Never)

Open-Ended Questions

  1. What additional training or development would help you in your career?
  2. What barriers, if any, do you see to your career growth within the company?

C. Leadership and Management

Leadership and management practices play a significant role in shaping an employee’s experience. Assessing how employees perceive their leaders can provide insights into areas that might need improvement to foster better communication, support, and trust.

  1. How would you rate the effectiveness of your direct manager? (Scale: Very Ineffective to Very Effective)
  2. Do you feel supported by your manager in your professional development? (Options: Yes, No, Somewhat)
  3. How often does your manager provide constructive feedback? (Options: Regularly, Occasionally, Rarely, Never)
  4. Do you believe that company leadership communicates effectively? (Scale: Strongly Disagree to Strongly Agree)
  5. How confident are you in the decisions made by company leadership? (Scale: Not Confident at All to Very Confident)

Open-Ended Questions

  1. What qualities do you appreciate most in your manager’s leadership style?
  2. What improvements could be made to leadership within the organization?

D. Work-Life Balance

Work-life balance is a crucial factor in employee well-being and satisfaction. Ensuring your employees have the flexibility they need to manage their work and personal lives can significantly impact retention rates. The following questions help you assess how well your organization supports work-life balance.

  1. How satisfied are you with your current work-life balance? (Scale: Very Dissatisfied to Very Satisfied)
  2. Do you feel that your work schedule allows you to balance work and personal life? (Options: Yes, No, Somewhat)
  3. How often do you feel overwhelmed by your workload? (Options: Always, Often, Sometimes, Rarely, Never)
  4. Do you have enough flexibility in your work schedule to manage personal responsibilities? (Scale: Strongly Disagree to Strongly Agree)
  5. How often do you take advantage of the company’s work-life balance initiatives (e.g., remote work, flexible hours)? (Options: Always, Often, Sometimes, Rarely, Never)

Open-Ended Questions

  1. What changes could improve your work-life balance?
  2. What additional support could the company provide to help you achieve a better work-life balance?

30 Key Employee Retention Survey Questions to Include in Your Questionnaire

To make a good employee retention survey, you need to ask the right questions about the experience, engagement, happiness, and general work setting of your employees. Here are 30 well-thought-out questions that can help you get useful information to help you keep your employees:

Questions on General Satisfaction

  1. How happy are you with the job you have now?
  2. What is your favorite thing about this job?

Questions About the Work Environment

  1. Do you think your workplace is safe and good for getting things done?
  2. How would you describe the way your team talks to each other?
  3. Do you have all the tools and information you need to do your job well?

Questions on Management and Leadership

  1. How happy are you with the help you get from your direct manager?
  2. Do you think the people in charge value your input and feedback?
  3. How good is your boss at getting the company's goals across?
  4. In what ways could your boss help you more?

Questions on Career Development

  1. Do you think there are ways for you to advance in the company?
  2. How pleased are you with the chances granted for career growth?

Questions on Compensation and Benefits

  1. In what ways are you happy with your present pay and benefits?
  2. Do you think the company's perks meet your needs?
  3. How happy are you with the benefits package as a whole, including health care, pensions, and other things?
  4. Do you think your pay is fair compared to other companies that hire people for similar jobs?

Questions About Work-Life Balance

  1. Do you think you have a good mix between work and life?
  2. How open do the company's hours allow you to be?
  3. Do you think the company cares about your health and happiness?

Questions on Recognition and Rewards

  1. Do you feel like you've been properly credited for your work and accomplishments?
  2. How happy are you with the programs that reward and recognize you?
  3. Do you think the company values the work you do?
  4. What kind of recognition means the most to you?

Questions on Company Culture

  1. How would you describe the way the company works?
  2. Do you think the ideals of the company are the same as your own?
  3. How valued and included do you feel in the company?

Questions on Engagement

  1. How interested are you in your job and the goal of the company?
  2. How much do you want to go above and beyond in your job?
  3. How do you get yourself to do your best?

Questions on their Intent to Stay

  1. Are you likely to stay at the company for another year?
  2. What are the main things that make you want to stay at the company or leave?

Closing Thoughts

The decision of an employee to stay or leave can make or break the workplace morale and company productivity. Organizations must start investing in excellent employee survey tools like ThriveSparrow to predict areas of disengagement, so that they never have to face sudden employee turnovers or turbulency in their work environment.