Employee surveys can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, they can be an excellent way to collect valuable insight into employee satisfaction, morale, and engagement. On the other hand, these surveys can be a massive waste of time if employees don't take them seriously. And why would they? If employees don't trust that their feedback will be used to make improvements, they're very likely to just breeze through survey questions and provide the same answers they always do.
What’s worse, poorly designed surveys can even hurt employee morale. For instance, a long and tedious survey can create more work for employees who must complete it. It can also give the impression that leadership is out of touch if it has no questions about employees' jobs or organizations. Finally, if employees aren’t given any feedback on survey results and how their input will be used to inform future decisions, they might feel like their time was wasted.
Rather than creating a survey that may do more harm than good, it’s a good idea to start by looking at best survey tools for small business to help you create a better experience for everyone involved. In this guide, we’ll discuss the best survey tools for small businesses to make collecting, analyzing, and acting on employee feedback as efficient and effective as possible. Notion forms by NoteForms is one of the tools we’ll cover. This lightweight, easy-to-use employee survey tool can help you achieve your objectives and create a better employee experience.
The Growing Importance of Employee Surveys
Employee surveys have become essential in the modern workplace, serving as a powerful tool for enhancing engagement, improving workplace culture, and driving organizational success. The significance of employee feedback must be balanced. Companies that listen to their employees are likelier to foster a positive, productive environment where individuals feel valued and empowered.
New Technologies Enhance Surveys
In 2025, the landscape of employee surveys is evolving rapidly with new technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). These tools streamline gathering feedback and enable organizations to derive more meaningful insights from the responses. AI-powered survey tools can now analyze large volumes of data in real-time, identify trends, and provide actionable recommendations, making it easier for HR teams to take proactive steps to improve employee satisfaction and retention.
Employee Surveys and the Workplace Experience
Additionally, employee surveys are not just about collecting data anymore; they’ve become an integral part of the workplace experience. The survey feedback is often used to tailor benefits, adjust management practices, improve communication, and enhance the work environment. Surveys are also increasingly being used to gauge employee sentiments on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), helping organizations create more inclusive and supportive workplaces.
The Importance of Employee Surveys in Remote Work
The rise of remote and hybrid work models has also contributed to the importance of employee surveys. With teams distributed across different locations and time zones, traditional forms of communication and feedback, such as in-person meetings, are less effective. Employee survey tools provide a reliable platform for collecting feedback, ensuring that all employees, regardless of location, have a voice in shaping the company culture.
Employee survey tools work to streamline the process of gathering feedback, ensuring organizations can collect, analyze, and act upon employee insights seamlessly and efficiently. These tools offer various features that enhance survey creation, distribution, and analysis for a user-friendly and impactful experience.
Every survey tool's core is the ability to create customized surveys. These platforms typically offer various question formats, such as multiple-choice, open-ended, Likert scale (rating), and matrix questions, allowing employers to tailor their surveys to suit their organization’s needs. Some tools include pre-built survey templates, which can be used for common survey types like employee engagement, pulse surveys, or exit interviews.
Once the survey is created, the next step is distribution. Most survey tools allow organizations to send employee surveys via email, internal chat systems, or on company intranet sites. With many employees working remotely or on flexible schedules, these tools often include features that ensure surveys are accessible on mobile devices, allowing employees to respond at their convenience.
Data Collection and Analysis
After the surveys are completed, the collected data is analyzed. Modern employee survey tools incorporate advanced analytics and reporting features, such as real-time data visualization, sentiment analysis, and benchmarking, that allow HR teams to identify trends and areas for improvement. Some tools use AI algorithms to uncover hidden insights from open-ended responses, enabling companies to understand employee sentiments better.
Generating Actionable Insights
One key aspect of employee survey tools is their ability to generate actionable insights. Once the data has been analyzed, the platform typically provides recommendations based on the findings, such as suggesting areas for improvement or highlighting specific employee concerns. This makes it easier for HR teams and managers to take concrete actions, from implementing new policies to addressing particular pain points.
Additionally, many survey tools allow organizations to track survey participation rates and ensure anonymity to encourage honest feedback. Some platforms also allow for survey benchmarking, where organizations can compare their results with industry standards or past surveys, enabling them to track their progress over time and measure the effectiveness of initiatives. The success of employee survey tools hinges on their ability to facilitate an open line of communication between employees and management, providing a platform for feedback that leads to real change and organizational improvement.
Benefits of Using Employee Survey Tools
One of the most significant benefits of employee survey tools is the ability to measure and improve employee engagement. By regularly collecting feedback, organizations can gauge employees' engagement and identify any factors affecting their motivation or job satisfaction. Engaged employees are more productive, loyal, and likely to stay with the company, so understanding what drives engagement is critical for retaining top talent.
Use Survey Data for Informed Decision-Making
Employee surveys provide valuable insights that can help companies make informed decisions. Instead of relying on anecdotal feedback or intuition, organizations can use survey data to address specific challenges, such as improving team communication or adjusting company policies. With the help of analytics, HR teams can identify trends, track employee sentiment over time, and develop strategies based on concrete data.
Proactively Solve Problems with Employee Surveys
Surveys are an excellent tool for identifying potential issues before they escalate. Regularly gathering employee feedback allows organizations to uncover areas where employees are dissatisfied, whether with management, work-life balance, or career development opportunities. By addressing these issues early, companies can prevent problems from escalating into more significant challenges that may affect employee morale or retention.
Shape a Better Workplace Culture with Employee Survey Tools
Employee survey tools help organizations understand their workforce’s needs, values, and expectations. This information is critical for shaping a positive workplace culture. For example, suppose surveys reveal a lack of diversity and inclusion or poor communication between departments. In that case, HR teams can develop targeted initiatives to address these concerns and create a more inclusive, collaborative environment.
Improve Employee Retention with Exit Surveys
High employee turnover is costly for organizations, and employee surveys provide a way to understand why employees leave. Exit surveys, in particular, can help businesses pinpoint the reasons behind employee departures, whether due to a lack of growth opportunities, insufficient compensation, or poor work-life balance. With this information, HR teams can adjust to retain their best talent and improve the employee experience.
Enhance Management and Leadership with Employee Survey Tools
Surveys that assess employee sentiment on leadership and management styles help identify areas for improvement. If employees feel management needs to be more supportive and transparent, companies can offer leadership training or make structural changes to improve communication and trust. Engaged and well-supported leaders are likelier to foster an engaged workforce, leading to better business outcomes.
Create Open Communication Channels with Employee Surveys
Employee surveys create an open and anonymous communication channel where employees can express their concerns without fear of retaliation. This builds trust between employees and management, encouraging more candid feedback. Regular surveys also show employees that their voices are valued, increasing their willingness to share their thoughts and suggestions for improvement.
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NoteForms's NotionForms builder supercharges Notion by enabling smooth form creation that integrates directly with Notion databases. Our key features include creating forms from existing Notion DBs, storing submissions in Notion DBs, unlimited forms and submissions, full customization (custom domains, design, logic, webhooks), embeddable forms, integrations (email, Zapier, Slack), support for Notion-specific columns (relation, people), writing to page body, and database views as a sub-product.
We cater to Notion power users, SaaS startups, and educators, solving challenges like inefficient data entry, fragmented workflows, and administrative overload. NoteForms streamlines data collection, centralizes management, and simplifies workflows, boosting productivity while cutting costs for Notion enthusiasts. Create a form for free today with our Notion forms builder!
11 Best Employee Survey Tools of 2025
1. NoteForms: Notion Forms that Supercharge Surveying
Create a Form for Free Today with our Notion Forms Builder
NoteForms's Notion Forms builder supercharges Notion by enabling smooth form creation that integrates directly with Notion databases. Our key features include creating forms from existing Notion DBs, storing submissions in Notion DBs, unlimited forms and submissions, full customization (custom domains, design, logic, webhooks), embeddable forms, integrations (email, Zapier, Slack), support for Notion-specific columns (relation, people), writing to page body, and database views as a sub-product.
We cater to Notion power users, SaaS startups, and educators, solving challenges like inefficient data entry, fragmented workflows, and administrative overload. NoteForms streamlines data collection, centralizes management, and simplifies workflows, boosting productivity while cutting costs for Notion enthusiasts. Create a form for free today with our Notion forms builder!
2. Qualtrics: A Robust Tool for Employee Insights
Qualtrics offers sophisticated analytics and AI-powered features that help companies create engaging and insightful surveys. This employee survey tool is ideal for large organizations looking for profound insights from employee surveys.
3. Officevibe: A Continuous Survey Tool for Employee Engagement
Officevibe is designed to help companies continuously engage with their employees through pulse surveys. It provides real-time actionable feedback, assisting businesses in addressing concerns quickly and improving employee engagement.
4. Culture Amp: A Tool for Building a Better Workplace Culture
Culture Amp is specifically focused on improving workplace culture and employee engagement. It offers an extensive library of survey templates, actionable insights, and employee development tools to drive a positive company culture.
5. TinyPulse: A Simple Tool for Quick Employee Feedback
TinyPulse focuses on quick, frequent “pulse surveys” to capture real-time employee feedback. It’s ideal for smaller companies looking for a simple, easy-to-use tool with quick results.
6. Google Forms: A Free Survey Tool for Small Organizations
Google Forms is a free tool that allows companies to create customizable surveys. While it lacks the advanced features of other survey tools, it’s an excellent choice for smaller organizations with basic survey needs.
7. 15Five: A Comprehensive Tool for Employee Feedback
15Five offers regular pulse surveys, performance reviews, and one-on-one check-in tools, making it a comprehensive platform for employee feedback. Its focus on continuous feedback allows companies to address concerns promptly.
8. Lattice: A Performance Management Tool with Employee Survey Features
Lattice is a performance management platform that includes employee surveys as part of its suite of tools. It offers customizable surveys, real-time feedback, and robust reporting features.
9. Glint: A Tool for Measuring Employee Engagement and Wellbeing
Glint provides organizations with powerful tools for measuring employee engagement and well-being. It uses AI to analyze feedback, identify trends, and recommend actions to improve employee satisfaction.
10. Qualaroo: A Real-Time Insight Tool for Employee Feedback
Qualaroo’s unique feature is its ability to capture real-time insights from employees. It offers a range of survey templates and is particularly useful for organizations looking for more targeted feedback.
11. Workday: A Comprehensive Tool for Employee Surveys and Performance Management
Workday offers a comprehensive suite of tools for employee surveys, performance management, and talent development. It allows organizations to measure employee satisfaction across multiple touchpoints, from onboarding to exit surveys.
How to Choose the Right Employee Survey Tool for Your Organization
User Interface: Make It Easy for Everyone Involved
When choosing an employee survey tool, the user interface is crucial. It should be simple for both administrators and employees to use. Look for a tool that makes survey creation, distribution, and analysis intuitive and streamlined. Tools with a steep learning curve may hinder survey adoption within your organization.
Customization: Tailor Your Surveys to Fit Your Organization
Customization is another essential factor to consider when choosing an employee survey tool. Look for tools to tailor surveys to your company’s specific needs. The ability to customize survey questions, themes, and branding ensures that your surveys align with your company culture and objectives.
Reporting and Analytics: Make Sure You Can Generate Actionable Insights
Any great survey tool's defining feature is its ability to generate actionable insights from survey responses. Choose a platform that provides in-depth analytics, such as sentiment analysis, benchmarking, and data visualizations. Real-time reporting and actionable insights will help you make data-driven decisions that lead to real improvements in employee engagement.
Integrations: Check How Well the Tool Integrates with Other Software
Consider how well the survey tool integrates with your organization's other HR platforms, such as performance management or learning management systems. Seamless integration will allow you to consolidate feedback across various touchpoints and create a more holistic view of employee engagement and satisfaction.
Pricing and Value: Find the Right Balance for Your Business
Survey tools come in various pricing options, from free tools like Google Forms to enterprise-level platforms with extensive features. When selecting a tool, consider your budget and the size of your organization. Look for a platform that offers a good balance of features and pricing.
Security and Anonymity: Protect Sensitive Employee Data
Employee surveys often require employees to share sensitive information, so security and confidentiality are vital. Choose tools with robust data security measures and ensure anonymity to encourage honest and open feedback.
Create a Form for Free Today with our Notion Forms Builder
Employee survey tools help you create, distribute, and analyze surveys and questionnaires for your organization's employees. You can use them to assess employee satisfaction, engagement, and performance and gather feedback on company initiatives, culture, and leadership. Employee survey tools streamline the survey process and make collecting feedback and generating reports on your findings easier.
Why Use Employee Survey Tools?
Employee survey tools simplify the process of gathering and analyzing employee feedback. With these tools, you can create surveys from pre-made templates and customize them to fit your organization’s needs. You can send the surveys to employees via email or a shareable link and collect their responses in a centralized platform. Employee survey tools also help reduce bias by allowing employees to answer questions anonymously.
We cater to Notion power users, SaaS startups, and educators, solving challenges like inefficient data entry, fragmented workflows, and administrative overload. NoteForms streamlines data collection, centralizes management, and simplifies workflows, boosting productivity while cutting costs for Notion enthusiasts. Create a form for free today with our Notion forms builder!