A little-noticed provision of the recent Defense Department
budget measure for the current fiscal year (P.L. 108-136)
requires each executive agency to conduct an annual
employee survey. Opinions vary widely on the usefulness
of such surveys–some consider them a waste of time while
others consider them a valuable means of assessing an
organization’s culture.
The most comprehensive ongoing surveys have been conducted
by the Merit Systems Protection Board, which last sent out
one in 2000 and which didn’t complete publishing the data
from that survey until late 2003. Among other findings,
that survey showed that only 47 percent of employees said
their supervisor had good management skills, only 41 percent
believed that their supervisor encouraged their career
development, and only a third thought their supervisor
promotes the best qualified person or uses fair and open
competition in promotions. The Office of Personnel
Management also periodically conducts surveys, including
one sent out in 2002 and published in 2003 that found only
43 percent of employees said they have a high opinion of
their supervisors.
Such results have led to complaints from managers that
surveys often turn into an exercise in manager-bashing, and
under the provisions of the new requirement managers again
will be in for special attention. Each agency’s survey must
include questions that are unique to that agency, in
accordance with regulations prescribed by Office of
Personnel Management. The surveys will assess leadership
and management practices and employees’ satisfaction with
their leadership, work environment, rewards and recognition,
opportunities for professional development, and their
opportunity to contribute to achieving their agency’s
mission.
OPM will issue implementing regulations later this year.
FEDweek
Publisher, Don Mace
VP of Marketing, Kevin Couch
Website: www.fedweek.com
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