Employee survey: Answers to the most frequently asked questions from participants

Purpose and background of the employee survey

Why does your employer conduct an employee survey?
The employee survey gives you the opportunity to openly express your opinion and actively participate in shaping your working environment. You can point out what is going well and where there is room for improvement. Your feedback helps to optimize working conditions so that you feel comfortable in the long term and can develop your potential in the best possible way.

What is measured in the employee survey?
Various aspects of your everyday working life are recorded. These include your motivation and commitment, your satisfaction with the working conditions and your personal assessment of your employer and the work organization. This data helps to identify the strengths and potential in the company and to derive targeted measures.

Who came up with the questions?
The management of your company developed the questionnaire together with ValueQuest. It is tailored to the values and culture of your company. The model is based on scientific principles.

Participation & survey procedure

Do I have to take part in the employee survey?
The employee survey is voluntary, but it is a huge opportunity to give honest feedback to the employer and management in an anonymous and structured form. Experience shows that around 80 % to 100 % of employees take part.

Do I have to complete the entire questionnaire?
No, it is not mandatory to complete the entire questionnaire that you receive from ValueQuest. You can send the survey even if you have not answered all the questions. If you do not want to or cannot answer a question, you can simply skip to the next one. The questionnaire can also be answered in several stages and sent off at a later date. Nevertheless, we recommend that you complete the survey in one go if possible and send it off straight away.

What if I can't answer questions?
Then you can simply leave them blank.

When should I fill out the questionnaire?
Ideally immediately after receiving the invitation e-mail. Completion can be interrupted and continued at a later date. If you click on "SUBMIT" at the end, the questionnaire will be locked.

How long does it take to complete the questionnaire?
It takes about 15 to 20 minutes to complete the questionnaire. This time investment is worthwhile, as your feedback will help to improve working conditions. It is possible to interrupt the questionnaire at any time and continue later from where you left off.

Will I receive a personal invitation?
Yes, you will receive a personal e-mail with your link to the questionnaire. Please do not forward your e-mail to your colleagues.

Why are employees addressed as "Sie" in a survey, even though they are otherwise addressed as "Du" in the company?
In our employee surveys, we always use the "you" form, even if the company itself uses the "du" form. This is to emphasize the professional distance between us as an external service provider and the interviewees. The survey is not conducted by the company itself, but by us as an independent body. This clear separation emphasizes the anonymity and professionalism of the survey to the participants and thus strengthens trust in the survey.

Is the survey also useful for recently reorganized employees?
Yes, even if your working environment has recently been changed, your experiences and assessments are very important. The survey provides a snapshot and helps the company to understand how you feel about the current situation. This allows targeted improvement measures to be developed and long-term developments to be monitored.

Data protection & anonymity of the survey

Is the survey anonymous?
Yes, the employee survey does not allow any conclusions to be drawn about individuals. We at ValueQuest guarantee this.

How is my anonymity guaranteed as a participating employee?
The survey is conducted by ValueQuest as an external institute. Your answers are transmitted in coded form so that no conclusions can be drawn about individuals. User data and responses are strictly separated from each other. Once the survey has been completed, all e-mail addresses are deleted to prevent subsequent identification. Your anonymity is therefore guaranteed at all times.
ValueQuest can track who has responded, but no one in your company has access to this data under any circumstances.

What data protection standards follow?
ValueQuest unconditionally guarantees that no information will be passed on. Employee surveys are ValueQuest's core business. We cannot afford any breaches of data protection. ValueQuest is subject to the strict guidelines of ESOMAR.

How is the evaluation carried out?
The evaluation is carried out by ValueQuest as an external service provider. ValueQuest's system does not allow smaller groups than agreed to be evaluated. The minimum group size varies from company to company, but according to ValueQuest's internal guidelines it may not be less than 5 people - and in exceptional cases not less than 4 people. In some companies, higher thresholds apply, for example 6 or even 7 people.

You will find more detailed information on the minimum group size applicable in your company in the invitation letter to the survey.

ValueQuest does not create evaluations for groups for which at least the agreed minimum number of people have not responded. Evaluations according to socio-demographic characteristics (e.g. age, gender) are also only carried out if this defined minimum is adhered to. No cross evaluations are carried out (e.g. age and gender together).

Results & next steps

Who has access to the results?
The results are available via the ValueQuest download and measures portal. The respective direct and higher-level superiors have access to the reports.

Who informs the employees about the results?
The results are communicated by regional management, senior management or ValueQuest. All employees receive an invitation to the presentation of the results, which is sent out by the company.

Who is responsible for implementing the measures?
Responsibility for the improvement measures lies with the respective teams and management units. Each management unit defines one to a maximum of three specific measures by the agreed date. The progress of these measures is regularly documented and reviewed in the measures portal.

When will the next survey take place?
This can vary from company to company. It is good practice to carry out the surveys every two or more years.

Who can I contact if I have questions or problems?
If you have any questions or problems, please contact Barbara Haimoff from ValueQuest at info@valuequest.ch.
An internal person will also be available to answer any questions you may have. You will find this person in the invitation letter to the survey. As a rule, this is the person responsible from HR or a responsible member of your company's management.