Validating a positive employee experience short-form scale to check the pulse of organizational health

Purpose This study aims to validate a short-form scale for measuring positive employee experience. Despite extensive discussions in research and practice on the definition and measurement of employee experience, few scales have been developed with methodological rigor, particularly focusing on employees' motivational psychological states. Design/methodology/approach Survey data were collected from employees in a South Korean chemical company. Structural equation modeling was used to cross-validate the positive employee experience scale. Additionally, a Chinese version was validated across different cultural contexts through comparative analysis. Findings The short-form positive employee experience scale, comprising six items across six dimensions, has been validated. These items reflect motivational psychological states experienced by employees at work, including recognition, growth, impact, relatedness, achievement and freedom. Statistical analyses confirm that this short-form scale exhibits robust psychometric properties, ensuring its reliability and validity in measuring positive employee experience. Originality/value The validated short-form scale offers a concise yet robust instrument for assessing positive employee experience. Its applicability in pulse surveys enables real-time assessment of employee sentiment, bridging theoretical rigor with practical utility.