Key elements of Stay Interview -
To be effective, stay interviews should:
- provide a snap shot of employee satisfaction levels;
- identify any issues or potential problems as they occur;
- potentially identify employees who are 'at risk' of resigning and address the issues to prevent their departure;
- determine whether the organisation is delivering on its promises to employees;
- identify any areas that are preventing employees performing to the best of their ability;
- provide another mechanism for feedback, which employees value; and
- provide valuable insight to help proactively address issues affecting staff morale and retention.
Employers should use simple and direct questions in stay interviews, and they should be conducted among a sample group that represents a cross-section of the company.
Ideally, the participants represent about 20 per cent of total staff from different areas of the business and varying levels of seniority. The interview can include an initial online survey, followed up by a brief face-to-face meeting, which should take no more than 45 minutes per person.
The questions in a stay interview should address the following topics:
- the employee's immediate manager;
- the employee's team/colleagues;
- the employee's ability to deal with customers and deliver the required level of service;
- the workplace culture;
- resources and technology;
- knowledge sharing;
- career development;
- improvements to the organisation;
- the reason the employee was attracted to the job initially, and does it still apply today; and
- whether the employee feels the employer's promises are being delivered.
Stay interview questions could include:
- What do you like about your work?
- What would keep you here?
- What makes for a great day at work?
- What do you want to learn this year?
- Is there anything you’d like to change about your job?
- How about your team or department?
- Am I using your talents? Fully?
- That would make your job more satisfying and rewarding?
- Do you feel supported in your career goals?
- Do you feel we recognize you? What kind of recognition do you like?
Stay Interview Questions -
Here are thirty-three questions you can ask new or existing employees as part of your
stay interview strategy. Remember it is more important for you to know why they stay,
not why they leave. You already know why they leave.
1. What was your first impression when you drove into the parking lot?
2. What are your impressions of the office environments?
3. What can we do to improve it?
4. How can I, or the company, help you reach your career goals?
5. What was your experience like during the recruitment process?
6. What was your experience like during the interview process?
7. How do you like to be recognized, acknowledged and rewarded for a job well
done?
8. What de-motivates you?
9. How friendly or unfriendly did the staff seem when you first walked in the door?
10. What is your greatest challenge or roadblock?
11. What is your impression of our customer service orientation?
12. Are there any policies that you don't understand the rationale for?
13. Are there any policies that strike you as ridiculous?
14. What are your impressions of our website?
15. What services are you surprised to learn that we are offering, for better or worse?
16. What services are you surprised to learn that we are NOT offering? For better or
worse?
17. What would make your work more meaningful and satisfying?
18. What conditions would cause you to seek employment elsewhere?
19. What support, tools/resources, skills or empowerment do you need to be more
effective?
20. What is most satisfying about your job?
21. What strengths or talents do you possess that aren't being used?
22. How do you feel the company and your team are doing?
23. Have you received enough training to do your job effectively?
24. Have you identified any wasteful things we are doing? Of time or money?
25. What is least satisfying about your job?
26. What changes need to be made in your work environment?
27. What is it that keeps you from seeking employment elsewhere?
28. If you could, what would you change about your job?
29. If you could change one thing about our company, what would it be?
30. Do you receive sufficient feedback about your performance?
31. What makes you feel like a valuable contributor?
32. How am I doing as your supporting leader?
33. What can we do to ensure we keep you with us?