Return to Office Survey Questionnaire + Template

Discovering the need for employees to return to the office involves understanding return-to-office plans, policies (such as the hybrid work policy), regulations, and exploring flexible work models. Use this adaptable questionnaire to gather employee input for office-attendance planning.

Jump to: Questionnaire · Background · Home work · Communication · Preferences · Workplace concerns.

A Return to Office (RTO) Survey gathers employee preferences, concerns and support needs for office-attendance planning. Use the sample RTO questionnaire below to adapt questions for your team.

Why Does Your Company Need to Conduct an RTO Survey?

To navigate the complexities of returning to the office, companies utilize RTO Surveys. These surveys offer insights into:

• Employee Perspectives: Understanding the workforce's needs.
• Future Considerations: Identifying necessary changes.
• Leadership Support: Building leadership strategies to support all organizational levels.
• Retention and Future Scope: Planning for sustained growth.
• Company Understanding: Gaining an overall comprehension of the company's goals post-pandemic challenges.

As the return to the office poses a significant challenge for companies, surveys become instrumental in implementing new policies, such as hybrid work models and flexible scheduling.

How Do Employees Engage with RTO Surveys?

Employees can use the survey to describe their preferred office attendance, concerns about proposed arrangements and support needs. Review this input when considering schedules, workplace conditions and transition support.

Choose relevant questions, describe any proposed plans and pretest the wording with a small employee group; see Pew's pretesting guidance. Describe actual response access and promise anonymity only if your setup supports it. Select one answer for closed questions; answer open questions in your own words.

Respondent introduction example (replace brackets): We are gathering input on office attendance. [Response reviewers] will see responses. We will share summarized findings on [date] via [channel].

Sample RTO Survey Questions:

‍General Background:

Question 1: On a scale of 1 to 5, how confident are you in your company's capacity to overcome the operational issues involved in changing office attendance?

1 = Not at all confident; 2 = Slightly confident; 3 = Moderately confident; 4 = Very confident; 5 = Extremely confident.

Question 2: On a scale of 1 to 5, how well-informed do you feel about your employer's proposed office-attendance plan?

1 = Not at all informed; 2 = Slightly informed; 3 = Moderately informed; 4 = Very informed; 5 = Fully informed. Separate option: Not applicable—no plan proposed.

Work From Home Experience:

Question 3: How comfortable is your present work-from-home setting?

⭕Not at all comfortable.

⭕Somewhat comfortable.

⭕Mostly comfortable.

⭕Completely comfortable.

⭕Not applicable—I have not worked from home.

Question 4: Do you believe you have the necessary tools and resources to carry out your job effectively from home?

⭕All necessary tools and resources.

⭕Some, but not all, necessary tools and resources.

⭕None of the necessary tools and resources.

⭕Not applicable—I do not work from home.

Question 5: On a scale from 1 to 5, do you think your current work environment is suitable for long-term remote work? 

1 = Not at all suitable; 2 = Slightly suitable; 3 = Moderately suitable; 4 = Very suitable; 5 = Extremely suitable. Separate option: Not applicable—I do not work remotely.

Question 6: Can you currently complete your work from home?

⭕At home, I am unable to complete my work.

⭕I am capable of completing some, but not all, of my work from home.

⭕I am capable of completing all of my work from home.

⭕Not applicable—I have not worked from home.

Communication Process:‍

Question 7: Do you think your current priorities are clearly defined?

⭕My present priorities are not at all clear.

⭕My present priorities are somewhat clear.

⭕My present priorities are clearly defined.

Question 8: Have you been able to reach your manager or supervisor when you needed them?

⭕Never.

⭕On some occasions, but fewer than half.

⭕On at least half of occasions, but not every occasion.

⭕Every time.

⭕I have not needed to contact them.

Question 9: Have you been able to reach your teammates when you needed them?

⭕Never.

⭕On some occasions, but fewer than half.

⭕On at least half of occasions, but not every occasion.

⭕Every time.

⭕I have not needed to contact them.

Question 10: On a scale of 1 to 5, how at ease are you taking care of your family as needed while working?

1 = Not at all at ease; 2 = Slightly at ease; 3 = Moderately at ease; 4 = Very at ease; 5 = Completely at ease. Separate options: Not applicable; Prefer not to answer.

Question 11: Do you feel at ease discussing personal concerns with your manager?

⭕Not at all at ease.

⭕Somewhat at ease.

⭕Completely at ease.

⭕Prefer not to answer.

Preference About Returning to the Office:

‍Question 12: Which aspect, if any, would you most value about returning to the office?

⭕Access to office equipment and facilities.

⭕Collaborating with my coworkers.

⭕Other (please specify).

⭕Reestablishing a healthy work-life balance.

⭕I do not anticipate an office benefit.

Question 13: What part of your job do you like best?

⭕My work tasks.

⭕My pay and benefits.

⭕I like interacting with the people I work with.

⭕My schedule flexibility.

⭕Other (please specify).

Question 14: How many days would you prefer to work from the office in a typical five-day workweek?

⭕0 days.

⭕1 day.

⭕2 days.

⭕3 days.

⭕4 days.

⭕5 days.

⭕Not applicable—my schedule does not fit a five-day workweek.

Optional planning prompts: Which days would you prefer to come to the office? How long would you expect each visit to last? Which activities would you use the office for? Skip these prompts if you do not plan to attend the office.

Workplace Concerns and Optional Planning:

Question 15: How comfortable are you with returning to the office under the proposed office-attendance plan, on a scale of 1 to 5?

1 = Not at all comfortable; 2 = Slightly comfortable; 3 = Moderately comfortable; 4 = Very comfortable; 5 = Completely comfortable. Separate option: Not applicable—no plan proposed.

Question 16: What would you require in order to feel safe returning to the office? [Open End]

Question 17 (optional): How comfortable would you feel working under [proposed workplace conditions], on a scale of 1 to 5?

1 = Not at all comfortable; 2 = Slightly comfortable; 3 = Moderately comfortable; 4 = Very comfortable; 5 = Completely comfortable. Separate option: Not applicable—no conditions proposed.

Question 18 (optional): How helpful would [proposed transition support] be for you, on a scale of 1 to 5?

1 = Not at all helpful; 2 = Slightly helpful; 3 = Moderately helpful; 4 = Very helpful; 5 = Extremely helpful. Separate option: Not applicable—no support proposed.

Question 19: What work habits, if any, would you change under the proposed office-attendance plan? [Open End]

Review responses by topic and share summarized findings and planned next steps, including what needs further discussion. Keep individual responses within the access you described.

Here are more resources from Litespace:

👉Learnings from Return To Office Strategy in 2023 

👉Return to Work Strategies for Employers in 2023