Employee Exit Survey Template and Questions

An employee exit survey is used to gather feedback and insights from departing employees about their experiences, reasons for leaving, and suggestions for improvement. It serves as a valuable source of information for employers to understand the factors contributing to employee turnover, identify potential issues within the organization, and make informed decisions to enhance the overall work environment and employee retention.

Employee exit surveys are typically administered to employees who have resigned, retired, or otherwise left the company voluntarily. The survey process allows departing employees to share their candid opinions and observations, providing valuable data that can help organizations refine their strategies and practices. Here's a closer look at the key components and benefits of an employee exit survey.

• Departure Details: The survey usually begins with questions to gather basic information about the departing employee, including their name, job title, department, and the reason for leaving. This information helps the organization categorize responses and analyze trends based on different employee segments.
• Job Satisfaction and Engagement: These questions assess the employee's overall satisfaction with their job, work environment, and the organization. They may inquire about factors such as job responsibilities, relationships with colleagues and supervisors, work-life balance, and opportunities for growth.
• Reasons for Leaving: One of the primary goals of an exit survey is to identify the specific reasons why the employee is leaving. This can encompass a range of factors, such as career advancement opportunities, compensation and benefits, work-related stress, organizational culture, and job fit.
• Workplace Environment: These questions delve into the broader workplace environment, including aspects such as communication, teamwork, recognition, support from supervisors, and the overall organizational culture.
• Training and Development: Employees' perceptions of the opportunities for training, skill development, and career advancement can provide insights into the organization's commitment to employee growth and professional development.
• Compensation and Benefits: Compensation-related questions explore whether employees feel adequately rewarded for their contributions and whether the compensation and benefits packages are competitive within the industry.
• Work-Life Balance: The survey may inquire about the employee's perception of work-life balance, including workload, flexibility, and the organization's support for maintaining a healthy work-life integration.
• Suggestions for Improvement: Open-ended questions give departing employees the opportunity to provide constructive feedback and offer suggestions for enhancing various aspects of the organization.

Analysing data from exit surveys can help organizations identify recurring patterns and trends in employee turnover. This information can highlight areas of concern and guide strategic decisions to address underlying issues. Exit surveys also offer insights into the organization's culture, allowing leaders to assess whether the culture aligns with the company's values and mission. If discrepancies exist, the organization can take steps to foster a more positive and inclusive culture.

By understanding the reasons employees choose to leave, organizations can take proactive measures to address these issues and improve employee retention rates. This can lead to cost savings associated with recruitment and training. Insights from exit surveys can inform the design and implementation of training and development programs that address employees' needs and aspirations, fostering a more engaged and skilled workforce.

Not only this, but you can use exit survey feedback to evaluate the competitiveness of compensation and benefits packages, making necessary adjustments to attract and retain top talent. Lastly, it’s worth noting that exit surveys demonstrate a company’s commitment to listening to employees and valuing their opinions, even as they leave the company. This can positively impact the company’s reputation and relationship with both current and former employees.

Employee Exit Survey Template

The following employee exit survey has been built with InsightHub. Across multiple screens and questions, the survey collects basic data on training and development opportunities, management, work-life balance and other important aspects of company culture.

As with all surveys built on the platform, routing, piping and complex logic can be applied between screens depending on your specific requirements. For instance, you may wish to ask employees for more detail if they raise a specific kind of concern or highlight particular retention opportunities.

This simple survey includes template text that you can adapt to your specific needs. When designing your survey, its important to consider the data that your research team needs – but also the other departments that will benefit from understanding responses in detail. This may include HR, line managers and senior management.

Want to find out how InsightHub can help you deliver a complete, cost-effective research programme with integrated data collection, analysis and activation tools? Sign up for a free demo account here.

Employee Exit Survey Best Practices

To ensure the success of employee exit surveys, you should consider the following advice. Assure departing employees that their responses will remain confidential and will not negatively impact their relationship with the organization. Administer the survey shortly before the employee's departure to capture their experiences and sentiments while they are still fresh.

Offer multiple survey delivery options, such as online platforms or paper-based forms, to accommodate different preferences. Analyze survey results systematically to identify actionable insights and prioritize areas for improvement.

Communicate any changes or improvements made based on exit survey feedback to demonstrate the organization's commitment to listening and responding to employee input. Periodically review and update the survey questions to ensure their relevance and effectiveness.

In conclusion, an employee exit survey is a valuable tool for organizations to gain insights into their workforce, understand the factors influencing turnover, and make informed decisions to enhance the overall employee experience. By actively seeking and acting on feedback from departing employees, organizations can create a positive work environment, improve employee retention, and foster a culture of continuous improvement.