Engagement Survey

Definition

An annual exercise where employees fill out anonymous surveys and nothing changes, yet somehow HR uses the data to justify their existence for another year.

Example Usage

Our engagement survey showed 62% satisfaction, which we're calling a 'win' despite last year being 64%.

Origin

Popularized by Gallup in the 1990s as a measurement of employee happiness

Fun Fact

The typical engagement survey has a 40-60% completion rate, meaning your results are based on your most opinionated employees

Source: Employee Experience Measurement Standards

Related Terms

Beginner

grievances

The official HR term for "things employees are pissed about," ranging from legitimate workplace violations to deeply felt parking spot disputes. These formal complaints trigger processes, investigations, and enough paperwork to deforest a small nation. In unionized environments, grievances are practically an art form with their own procedures and timelines.

👥 Human Resources

Intermediate

whole person approach

An HR philosophy considering employees' complete well-being—physical, mental, financial, and social—rather than just their job performance. The trend that led to meditation apps instead of raises.

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Advanced

employee value proposition

The unique set of benefits and experiences an employer offers in return for the skills and experience an employee brings. It's a marketing pitch, but for jobs instead of products.

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OKR (Objectives and Key Results)

A goal-setting framework that sounds strategic until you realize everyone's OKRs contradict each other and nobody hits them anyway.

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360 review

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👥 Human Resources

Intermediate

silent firing

Making an employee's job so miserable they quit voluntarily, thereby avoiding severance obligations and unemployment claims. It's constructive discharge with better PR, often involving workload manipulation, exclusion, or denial of opportunities.

👥 Human Resources

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