Employee Survey Companies: 4 Factors to Consider Before Hiring One

people gathered at a table for an employee survey company meeting

Let’s face it, you want to know what your employees think of you–or, your company, that is.

The main reason using a third party for employee surveys is so vital to an organization is that they give strategic insight into staff opinion.

Through this feedback, you’re able to see what works and what doesn’t. And at a time where 63% of employers find keeping staff is harder than finding them, this feedback is more important than ever.

The first step in executing a successful study is hiring the best partner.

Sure when Googling, “employee survey companies” you are greeted with hundreds of lists of vendors - but what do these lists really tell you?

Before signing on the dotted line, I recommend keeping a few telltale signs in the back of your mind as you are on the hunt. 

In this blog post, our employee engagement survey company shares what these factors are.


Know What You Want from the Data

Sure, you want to hear your employee’s opinions.

But when choosing your employee survey company, knowing specifically what you want to come out of the survey magnifies the outcomes of the data. 

Weigh in main factors about your company to maintain focus. 

Some of these factors include: 

  1. Business size
  2. Budget for research
  3. Number of questions
  4. Level of question detail

Bam–measuring employee engagement just got a whole lot easier. 

💡 Key Takeaway: Before you start surveying employees, make a list of the main objectives you want to come out of the study. 


Consider the Ease of Third-Party Relationships

More often than not, companies will be provided a self-service platform to conduct their research.

This means that much of the survey process still lands on your company, and that can get tricky when it comes to data interpretation time!

When choosing a third-party market research firm like Drive Research, you won’t have to worry about getting overwhelmed with survey feedback. 

Third-party firms like ours will work with you through the entire process, from sending off survey invites to data analysis. 

We take an unbiased approach to feedback, making sure your company gets high-quality results.

💡 Key Takeaway: If you choose to work with a third-party company like Drive Research, the stress of data interpretation is off of you. Having a team to guide you through the survey results will give you clear insight into future steps. 


Send Third Party Invites for Honest Feedback 

This is a sugar coating-free zone. You want your employees to answer survey questions as honestly as possible to get the best results.

Make sure your survey vendor is able to send out emails through a private platform. This is to make sure your employees are comfortable with answering questions candidly. 

If staff sees that an employee survey has come in through their own company, they may hold back for fear of being penalized.

Since employees can breathe easy knowing the HR department isn’t demanding immediate feedback, you’ll have more time to go over insights.

💡 Key Takeaway: Don’t worry about your staff rushing through their survey when it’s provided by a third party. Since they won’t see their HR department pop up in their inbox, the stress of producing fast feedback is gone–meaning you get thoughtful answers. 


Getting the Questions Just Right

If you want solid feedback, you’ve got to ask solid questions. 

Let’s go back to the beginning–you’re trying to better your company. It’s likely you have a lot of questions you’d like to ask your employees. 

  • How does your company culture compare to competitors?
  • Do your employees have enough opportunities for growth?
  • Are they satisfied with their salary and benefits?
  • How does each of these factors play a role in overall engagement?

These are just some of the questions your workplace survey can focus on. 

For instance, a recent employee engagement study revealed only 29% of employees are happy with their company’s advancement opportunities. 

That should be a big eye-opener to start instituting more areas for growth within their company structure.


How many questions should I ask in the survey?

If you want to get the best possible outcome from your market research, keep employee survey questions limited. 

For example, if you wanted to understand the cause behind low retention rates, then your questions should revolve around what your team is dissatisfied with and what suggestions they have to improve their overall satisfaction.

This is another reason why hiring a survey company can be a massive help. 

A third-party employee engagement survey vendor will rank your survey goals, making what you choose to focus on that much easier. 

It’s also not a bad idea to get in touch with a firm that’s familiar with your industry.

This will ensure you’re getting the best questions possible.

In fact, third-party vendors often provide a customized employee survey questionnaire to get the process off to a successful start!

💡 Key Takeaway: Third-party survey companies will help rank your survey goals in order or importance. Since it’s easy to get overwhelmed with survey ideas, said companies can guide you towards the best option for your business. 


Conduct an Employee Survey with Drive Research

Based in New York, Drive Research is a national market research firm boasting a team of well-versed professionals in conducting employee surveys. We assist organizations from various industries with survey development, administration, analysis, recommendations, and more.

Our main goal is your main goal: your company’s success and employees’ happiness. 

Contact us today to learn more about our pricing.

  1. Message us on our website
  2. Email us at [email protected]
  3. Call us at 888-725-DATA
  4. Text us at 315-303-2040

lark-allen-drive-research-aboutheauthor

Lark Allen

As a Content Marketing Specialist, Lark has a strong background and passion for creative, professional, and journalistic writing. She is also a self-proclaimed music freak and 90s enthusiast.

Learn more about Lark, here.


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