A new employee questionnaire works when it is two short forms and the answers change something. Before day one: what the employer needs to set the first day up, equipment preferences, the accounts the hire will need, the working pattern where there is a choice, the emergency contact. At thirty days: what was unclear, what was missing on day one, who helped most, what they want to learn next. The onboarding checklist on this site carries both as lines, free and without an account.
Before day one
Under ten questions, each one the employer needs answered to prepare: laptop or desktop, which systems, days in the office, contact in an emergency, access or dietary needs where the first day involves them. Sent with the welcome email, returned with the signed documents.
At thirty days
What was unclear in the first week; what was missing on day one; who helped and how; what would have made the first month easier; what they want to learn next. Sent a few days before the thirty-day review, so the answers are on the table. The review template on this site prints the review.
Acting on the answers
The practical answers become the day-one setup; the thirty-day answers become changes to the checklist for the next hire. The checklist on this site is regenerated with the changed lines, so the improvement lives in the next hire's list.
Keeping them
Against the hire's record with the dates, beside the checklist and the review. HeadcountDesk Pro keeps them. From the vendors' own pricing pages, cited below: Homebase lists its Essentials plan at $30 per location per month billed monthly or $24 billed annually, with unlimited employees, and a Basic plan at $0 for one location with up to 10 employees; BambooHR starts at $10 per employee per month for Core and $17 for Pro; Deputy's Core plan is $6.50 per user per month. HeadcountDesk Pro is $24 per month per location.
Questions people ask about new employee questionnaire
Should the thirty-day questionnaire be anonymous?
It can be, at the cost of follow-up; most small employers prefer the conversation.
How many questions?
Under ten each; a long questionnaire is not completed.
Is the checklist free?
Yes, without an account.