The Strategic Value of Running an Engagement Survey Right Now
In a fast-changing Australian workplace landscape, shaped by hybrid work, cost-of-living pressures, and shifting employee expectations, there’s never been a more critical moment for organisations to check in with their people. If you're wondering whether now is the right time to run an employee engagement survey, the answer is a resounding yes.
Here are six reasons why now is the right time to check in with your team.
1. Post-FY Planning Needs Real Insight
With the Australian financial year wrapped up on June 30, many businesses are in planning mode for the new year. Without a clear understanding of employee sentiment, organisations risk making assumptions. An engagement survey now provides actionable insights to guide FY25 strategy, workforce planning, and internal communications with data-not guesswork.
2. Workplace Expectations Are Evolving Fast
From Sydney to Perth, employees are redefining what they value most: flexibility, meaningful work, inclusion, wellbeing, and career growth. These priorities aren't static, and without regular feedback loops, businesses can fall behind. An engagement survey helps you track how these values are shifting in real time and respond before disengagement sets in.
3. Retention Pressures Are Mounting
Australian businesses are still grappling with talent shortages in key sectors like health, education, tech, and construction. Replacing an employee can cost up to 150% of their salary, not to mention the hit to culture and productivity. An engagement survey helps identify flight risks early and spot systemic issues before they become exit interviews.
4. Hybrid Work Needs a Feedback Loop
Hybrid and remote work have become the norm across much of Australia, however they come with communication gaps and uneven employee experiences. Engagement surveys help surface how connected, supported, and productive employees feel in different environments, so you can tailor solutions that actually work.
5. Employee Voice Builds Trust During Uncertainty
From economic volatility to AI integration, Australian organisations are navigating significant change. In these periods, visibility and trust are paramount. Running a survey signals that leadership values transparency, listens to feedback, and is committed to continuous improvement, which are key elements for psychological safety and high performance.
6. Your People Expect It
Employees, particularly Millennials and Gen Z, are increasingly accustomed to giving feedback-on platforms, apps, and social media. Many now expect the same in the workplace. Not offering a structured outlet for feedback can be seen as being out of touch or disinterested. A well-run survey shows you care and are serious about acting on what you hear.
An engagement survey is more than a pulse check; it’s a strategic tool for organisational alignment, employee satisfaction, and long-term success. With the new financial year underway and the Australian workforce evolving rapidly, now is the right time to run a survey, listen deeply, and lead with clarity.
Don’t wait for signs of disengagement to emerge- get ahead of them.