What is eNPS (employee Net Promoter Score)?

Employee Net Promoter Score (eNPS): Employee Net Promoter Score (eNPS) asks employees how likely they are to recommend their company as a place to work, on a scale from 0 to 10. The score is the percentage of promoters (9 or 10) minus the percentage of detractors (0 to 6), so it runs from -100 to +100.

Also known as eNPS, employee NPS.

eNPS is the Net Promoter Score turned inward. Bain's version of the question is "On a scale from 0 to 10, would you recommend your company as a place to work to a friend or colleague?" One number comes out, and you track it over time.

Example polls

Paste any of these into the message box in Slack.

/poll "On a scale from 0 to 10, how likely are you to recommend working here to a friend?" "0" "1" "2" "3" "4" "5" "6" "7" "8" "9" "10" limit 1 anonymous close after 3 days

Choice poll. The single eNPS question, one score per person, anonymous, closing after three days.

/poll "On a scale from 0 to 10, how likely are you to recommend working here to a friend?" "0" "1" "2" "3" "4" "5" "6" "7" "8" "9" "10" limit 1 anonymous close after 3 days

Premium: more than 5 options, vote limits, closing automatically

AnonymousLimit votes: 1 per personClose automatically: after 3 days

/poll "Quarterly eNPS" "Two questions, anonymous, under a minute." anonymous close after 3 days --- "How likely are you to recommend working here to a friend? 0 is not at all likely, 10 is extremely likely." "0" "1" "2" "3" "4" "5" "6" "7" "8" "9" "10" limit 1 --- "What is the main reason for your score?" short text optional

Survey (2 questions). The score plus the reason behind it, as one anonymous survey.

/poll "Quarterly eNPS" "Two questions, anonymous, under a minute." anonymous close after 3 days --- "How likely are you to recommend working here to a friend? 0 is not at all likely, 10 is extremely likely." "0" "1" "2" "3" "4" "5" "6" "7" "8" "9" "10" limit 1 --- "What is the main reason for your score?" short text optional

Premium: surveys (several questions), more than 5 options, closing automatically

AnonymousClose automatically: after 3 days

The arithmetic

Sort every answer into one of three groups:

  • Promoters: 9 or 10
  • Passives: 7 or 8
  • Detractors: 0 to 6

eNPS = % promoters minus % detractors. Passives don't add or subtract, but they count in the total you divide by. Example: 40 people answer, 14 are promoters (35%), 16 are passives and 10 are detractors (25%). The eNPS is 35 minus 25, which is +10. It's reported as a whole number, not a percentage.

On a small team the score jumps around. With 8 respondents, one person moving from a 6 to a 9 shifts the score by 25 points. Read the trend over several rounds, not one result.

Why a Simple Poll scale poll is the wrong type

Simple Poll's scale poll rates from 1 to 5. eNPS needs 11 points starting at 0, because the promoter and detractor bands are defined on that scale. A 1 to 5 rating can't be converted into eNPS.

Use a choice poll with eleven options, "0" to "10", instead:

  • limit 1 so each person gives exactly one score. Without it people can tick several numbers and the arithmetic breaks.
  • anonymous, because nobody gives an honest 3 with their name on it.
  • Keep the options in order (don't add order-results-by-votes).

Eleven options and limit 1 are both Premium. The free 14-day trial (/simplepoll trial) covers them. With limit 1, the total vote count equals the number of people who answered, so you add up the 9 and 10 votes, add up the 0 to 6 votes, and divide each by the total.

Ask why, then act

Bain pairs the score with a second question asking for the main reason behind it. Put both in one anonymous survey (Premium) and make the reason optional. The score tells you whether things moved. The reasons tell you what to change. Pick one thing, say what you're doing about it, and run the same question again next quarter.

Questions

Can I use the 1 to 5 scale poll for eNPS?

No. eNPS is defined on a 0 to 10 scale with promoters at 9 or 10 and detractors at 0 to 6. Use a choice poll with options 0 to 10 and limit 1.

Do I need Premium to run eNPS in Slack?

Yes. A poll with more than five options and a one-vote limit both need Premium. You can try it free for 14 days with /simplepoll trial; see pricing for plans.

What is a good eNPS?

There's no universal cut-off. Anything above zero means more promoters than detractors. Your own trend, measured the same way each time, is more useful than someone else's number.

Is eNPS the same as customer NPS?

Same arithmetic, different question and audience. Don't compare your eNPS against customer NPS benchmarks.

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