Staff survey shows Guide Dogs the way
Guide Dogs wants a world in which all blind and partially-sighted people enjoy the same rights, opportunities and responsibilities as everyone else. Employing just over 1000 people in support of this mission they understand the key role that engaged employees and volunteers have to play in this mission.
How People Insight has helped
We have been working alongside Guide Dogs since 2006, and in that time we have delivered two staff surveys.
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The first staff survey was delivered via a combination of paper surveys and telephone interviews, however the challenge for 2008 was to design a survey approach that would be equally accessible to all employees. We researched screen reader technologies and in conjunction with the client we developed an online version of the employee survey that would be readily accessible via Jaws online reader software.
The online survey was distributed via e-mail to all 1000 staff over a two week period, and a response rate of 74% was achieved.
The results
Following the 2006 staff survey Guide Dogs worked hard to improve their performance as an employer, and to make sure that they value and support all staff properly. One important change was a move to new policies to promote staff well being. This included fostering open two-way communication, good teamwork and cooperation and promoting an appropriate balance between work and personal life. Communication between staff and senior management in particular has become much more open and regular and there are now more opportunities (both formal and informal) to communicate and consult with staff locally and nationally. The survey results also inspired new policies to provide better support for people during periods of stress or absence.
Whilst feedback from Guide Dogs employees has been consistently good, overall staff survey results have improved significantly. Our analysis of 2008 versus 2006 results showed gains in many areas, but notably communication, staff training, and management development.