By Curtis David Maughan · Published · Updated
Employee pulse survey questions
A short list of wellbeing pulse questions you can use as a template. Pick a handful — not all of them. The point isn't a dashboard; it's a quiet, regular signal that helps you act early.
How to use this list
- Choose 4–6 questions, not all 16. Long surveys get ignored.
- Run it on the same day each week or fortnight.
- Make it anonymous by default. Trust comes before data.
- Share back what you heard and what you'll change.
Mood & energy
How people are arriving at work this week. Keep it gentle — a single honest score is more useful than a forced average.
- — How are you feeling about work this week? (1–5)
- — How is your energy right now compared to a normal week?
- — What's one word that describes your week so far?
- — Have you felt able to switch off outside work hours?
Workload & focus
Where pressure is sitting. Useful for spotting overload before it turns into burnout or a quiet resignation.
- — Is your current workload sustainable for the next month?
- — How often this week have you felt rushed or stretched thin?
- — Are you able to focus on the work that matters most?
- — What's one thing slowing you down right now?
Support & belonging
Whether people feel seen by their team and manager. The strongest predictor of staying — and of speaking up early when something's wrong.
- — Do you feel supported by your manager this week?
- — Is there someone at work you can talk to if you're struggling?
- — Do you feel like you belong in your team?
- — Have you felt recognised for your work recently?
Voice & safety
Whether people feel safe to be honest. If these scores are low, treat every other answer with caution.
- — Do you feel safe to raise concerns at work?
- — When you share feedback, do you see it acted on?
- — Is there anything you'd want leadership to know this week?
- — Is there anything getting in the way of you doing your best work?
Pair it with a method
These questions are the “what to ask”. For the “how often, how to read it, and how to keep it safe”, read our companion guide on how to measure employee wellbeing.
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