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Home › Platform › Benchmark Surveys › NES

The National Employee Survey

The nation’s preferred government employee survey gives a clear and accurate picture of workplace climate and job satisfaction.

The National Employee Survey® (The NES®) measures the workplace to help local government managers and HR leaders increase job satisfaction, enhance employee engagement, and improve retention. The National Employee Survey represents over 300,000 government employee perspectives nationwide and reports benchmark comparisons. Get the feedback you need to make smart decisions that best impact your staff.

What is The National Employee Survey?

The NES is a low-cost, customizable, and easy-to-conduct survey for public-sector organizations. Developed by Polco’s National Research Center (NRC) and local government professionals, The NES presents findings that span the government employee experience. 

This survey provides benchmark comparisons with other local government organizations across the U.S. The NES also explores how employees perceive the community where they work, providing insight into how their efforts impact residents at large.

The National Employee Survey results help you optimize your organization, giving you and your team the confidence to take on challenges in your community.

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Key features of The National Employee Survey

Elevate workplace satisfaction and performance

Scientifically valid employee feedback

Comprehensive Data Collection: The National Employee Survey uses proven, scientific methods that guarantee anonymity and ensure results accurately represent the organization. The survey assesses 11 domains of the local government workplace. You’ll get insights into everything from job satisfaction to opinions on wages, leadership, and more.

Reliable, Actionable Data: By gathering statistically valid feedback, local governments can trust that the insights reflect the true experiences of employees, providing a strong foundation for making informed, targeted improvements.

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Benchmarking against other organizations

National Comparison Data: Compare your organization’s results to a national database of public sector employees. Benchmarking helps identify how your organization fares in areas such as workplace satisfaction and leadership effectiveness relative to others in the field.

Year-Over-Year Tracking: Conducting The NES regularly allows you to track workplace trends over time. This enables you to measure the impact of initiatives and identify emerging challenges.

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Customizable survey questions

Tailored to Organizational Needs: The NES includes core questions on important topics such as workplace culture, leadership, and job satisfaction, but also allows for custom questions to address unique organizational issues or goals.

Deep Dive into Key Areas: Organizations can focus on specific aspects of the employee experience, such as career development opportunities or work-life balance, enabling leaders to collect detailed feedback where it’s most needed.

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Easy-to-understand reporting

Clear, Visual Insights: The NES delivers results in clear, visual reports that make it easy for decision-makers to understand employee feedback. Dashboards and charts highlight key findings, making it simple to identify priorities for improvement.

Expert Recommendations: Each report includes actionable recommendations from the National Research Center, helping leaders translate survey results into strategies that enhance employee engagement and satisfaction.

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Accessible delivery options

Reach Employees Where They Are: The NES is commonly administered easily online and includes email invitations so that every employee has the opportunity to participate.

Mobile-Optimized: Employees can complete the survey on their mobile devices, making participation more convenient and increasing response rates.

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Understand your employees better

Human Resources and other department leaders trust The National Employee Survey to collect accurate insights. Make decisions that improve workplace satisfaction, engagement, retention, and performance.

Benefits of using The National Employee Survey

Build a stronger, more engaged workforce

Improve employee satisfaction

Collect data that reveals what your employees value most about their jobs and where improvements are needed, allowing you to address key concerns and create a more satisfying workplace.

Track progress over time

Conduct The NES regularly to track changes in employee satisfaction, measure the impact of your initiatives, and ensure your organization is continually improving.

Make data-driven workforce decisions

The NES provides reliable data that helps local government leaders make decisions that are aligned with employee needs, ultimately enhancing both employee well-being and organizational performance.

Increase retention and morale

By acting on the feedback from The NES, you can implement changes that boost employee engagement and morale, helping you retain top talent and reduce turnover.

Foster a positive workplace culture

With insights into workplace culture, leadership effectiveness, and employee sentiment, you can cultivate a culture that supports productivity, collaboration, and job satisfaction.

Why you need The National Employee Survey

A strong and satisfied workforce is the backbone of any successful public organization. The National Employee Survey (The NES) provides you with the data you need to understand the needs, concerns, and priorities of your employees. By gathering statistically valid feedback on critical areas such as workplace culture, job satisfaction, and leadership, The NES enables local governments to make informed decisions that support a healthier, more engaged workforce.

Benchmarking your results against other public organizations gives you a clear view of where you stand and where improvements are needed. With regular use of The NES, you can track progress over time, implement targeted initiatives, and ultimately create a more positive, productive workplace. Whether you’re looking to improve retention, boost morale, or address specific workforce challenges, The NES equips you with the insights needed to foster a thriving, satisfied team.

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Build a stronger workforce

Leverage data from The National Employee Survey to create a positive work environment that supports employee growth, satisfaction, and retention.