Sending an exit survey
Learn how, as an HR admin, you send a leaving colleague a short exit survey. Asking why people leave shows what to keep and what to change.
Where do you find it?
On the leaving checklist, the item "Send [name] the exit survey" has a Prepare the survey button. See Working through the leaving checklist.
How to send it
- Click Prepare the survey. You'll see a survey that's already filled in:
- the title "Exit survey: [name]";
- the exit survey questions, in the colleague's language;
- only this colleague as the recipient;
- the survey closes by itself after the last day.
- Adjust the questions if you like. Want to finish later? Click Save draft. The checklist then shows Continue the survey.
- Click Send survey. The colleague gets an email invitation.
These questions are included by default:
- How would you rate your overall experience at this company?
- I felt valued during my time here
- I had opportunities for growth and development
- I would consider returning to this company in the future
- How likely are you to recommend this company to a friend?
- What did you enjoy most about working here?
- What would you change about working here?
When do you send it?
You choose, up to and including the last day. For example after a goodbye conversation, or a few days before the end. After the last day the colleague can't log in any more and you can't send the survey. That's why the checklist says "Send it before [date], while [name] can still receive it."
Not sending it?
Does an exit survey not suit this departure, for example after a difficult conversation? Click Skip on the checklist. The item is then done. Changed your mind? Click Undo, up to and including the last day.
Didn’t send the survey, and the last day has passed? Then you’ll see “The exit survey wasn’t sent to [name]”. There’s nothing more to do: the item no longer keeps the checklist open.
Viewing the answers
Once the colleague has filled in the survey, the checklist shows "[name] answered the exit survey on [date]", with a See the answers link. You'll also find the survey under HR → Surveys, labelled Exit survey.
Good to know
- An exit survey is never anonymous. The colleague sees beforehand: "Your answers go to HR at [company], with your name." In a small team anonymity wouldn't mean much anyway, and with a name you can follow up.
- Only HR admins see the answers. The colleague's manager doesn't.
- There's no checklist item if the colleague was never invited to Heartsome, or after a death.
- Cancelling the leaving? A draft is deleted. A sent survey is closed and kept, with any answers.
- Don't use the exit survey? Turn it off in Company Settings → Offboarding. See [Setting up offboarding steps]
[link to follow].
Updated on: 20/10/2026
Thank you!