The 2026 Employee Engagement Survey by HEC helps organizations gain clear, actionable insight into employee experience, leadership, and workplace culture. With a streamlined process and confidential reporting, it equips leaders to make informed decisions that drive engagement and performance.
What’s New for 2026
- Simplified survey distribution: Organizations now share a single survey link internally, offering greater flexibility in communication and rollout
- Optional managed distribution: HEC can distribute individualized survey links to employees for a more controlled, trackable experience (additional fee applies)
- Enhanced reporting: Updated reporting format with more consistent division-level insights
About the Survey
Q: What does employee engagement mean?
Employee engagement reflects the level of an employee’s commitment and connection to their organization. This includes their sense of purpose, relationships with colleagues and leadership, and motivation to contribute to organizational success.
Q: Why conduct an employee engagement survey?
Employee engagement surveys provide critical insight into how employees experience their work, leadership, and organization. Organizations that act on this feedback are better positioned to improve retention, productivity, and overall workforce performance.
Q: What types of questions are included?
The survey includes 55 questions focused on employee experience, leadership and supervision, job responsibilities, team dynamics, workplace communication, and development. Open-ended questions are also included to capture deeper insights.
Q: Who should participate?
HEC member organizations of all sizes are encouraged to participate. This survey is especially valuable if you:
- Have never conducted an employee engagement survey and want a clear baseline
- Have participated previously and want to track progress or compare results year over year
- Sense that something is “off” in your workplace culture but can’t pinpoint why
- Are experiencing higher-than-expected turnover or retention challenges
- Want more candid, organization-wide feedback to inform leadership decisions
Survey Process & Timeline
Q: What is my time commitment for this survey? What is expected of me?
Your time commitment is minimal and primarily focused on:
- Confirming survey details prior to survey distribution
- Communicating with employees to encourage participation
HEC handles survey setup, administration, and analysis, while your team distributes the survey link to employees. Optional support is available if you prefer HEC to manage survey distribution on your behalf (additional fee applies).
Q: How is the survey distributed to employees?
Organizations receive a general survey link for you to distribute to your employees through your internal communication channels. Optional managed distribution by HEC is also available (additional fee applies).
Q: How long will it take employees to complete the survey?
On average, employees complete the survey in 10–15 minutes.
Q: What’s the survey timeline?
Organizations can register to participate in the survey beginning May 11. Registration closes on May 29. The online survey for employees will open on July 13 and close on July 26. Reports will be shared with participating organizations in early September.
Confidentiality & Data Use
Q: Is the survey confidential?
Yes. The survey is administered by HEC, and individual responses are never shared with participating organizations.
All results are reported in aggregate, with a minimum reporting threshold of five responses to ensure anonymity.
Q: What will HEC do with the survey data?
HEC compiles survey results into aggregate reports at both the organizational and statewide level. Data included in any statewide reporting is de-identified and combined across participating organizations, ensuring that no individual organization or employee can be identified. Insights may also be used to inform future programs, resources, and member support.
Results & Follow-Up
Q: What results will participating organizations receive?
Organizations will receive:
- A comprehensive organization-level report
- Hawaii state-wide benchmarks for comparison
Additional custom reports and deeper analysis are available (additional fee applies).
Q: What happens after the survey?
HEC provides a complimentary virtual session to review statewide survey findings, including key trends and practical insights.
Organizations may choose optional post-survey services to further leverage their results, including:
- Leadership strategy sessions tailored to your data
- Employee focus groups to explore findings and develop solutions (Additional fees apply)
Pricing & What's Included
Q: Is there a cost to participate in the survey?
Participation in the annual Employee Engagement Survey by HEC is included as a benefit of your HEC membership.
Additional fees apply for optional services such as survey customization, expanded reporting, and other enhanced support. Click here for more details.
For more information, visit our Employee Engagement Survey page.