London Borough of Sutton: Employee Pulse Survey
The London Borough of Sutton commissioned M·E·L Research to deliver its Employee Pulse Survey 2023, a follow-up to the 2022 survey designed to track how staff feel about working for the Council.
The Council’s goals were to:
- Assess employee engagement and morale following a period of significant organisational change.
- Understand staff views on leadership, communication, inclusion, wellbeing, and hybrid working.
- Identify areas for improvement to inform the Council’s ongoing People Strategy and “Ambitious for Sutton” Corporate Plan.
Key challenges included ensuring the survey reflected Sutton’s diverse workforce and captured views across different roles, directorates, and working patterns — including both office-based and remote employees.
The Approach
M·E·L Research worked closely with Sutton’s HR and communications teams to design a clear, confidential, and inclusive online survey.
Survey Design and Delivery
A bespoke online questionnaire was distributed to all Sutton Council employees in autumn 2023.
The survey included both quantitative ratings (0–10 scale) and qualitative comments to capture detailed feedback.
Participation was open to all staff, achieving 927 responses across all directorates.
The data was analysed using mean scores, net positive ratings, and subgroup analysis (by role, location, contract type, and protected characteristics).
Analytical Approach
Statistical analysis identified highest- and lowest-scoring indicators and significant subgroup differences.
Thematic analysis of open comments helped contextualise quantitative findings.
Year-on-year comparison with 2022 results highlighted progress areas and emerging risks.
Impact
The 2023 Employee Pulse Survey provided Sutton Council with a clear and credible picture of workforce sentiment, revealing strong levels of inclusion and manager support, alongside opportunities to improve corporate communication and engagement with the Council’s vision.
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