OPM has asked agencies to designate a point of contact to help with logistics and communication of an inaugural Federal Work-Life Survey to be administered in early 2017.
“The work-life needs assessment survey continues OPM’s support to develop and sustain an engaged, innovative and productive federal workforce, and is part of OPM’s commitment to support agencies as specified in the June 23, 2014 Presidential Memorandum on Enhancing Workplace Flexibilities and Work-Life Programs. By creating opportunity at every level of the workforce, we are working to attract, empower and retain a talented and productive workforce to better serve the American people,” OPM said in announcing the survey.
“OPM’s commitment to workplace flexibilities and employee wellness makes the federal service an ideal place for employees to build their careers and cultivate fulfilling lives outside the workplace. We have an unprecedented opportunity to evaluate the relationship between work-life programs and organizational benefits, and answer questions about how federal programs compare to similar private sector programs through this survey.
“The data collected will also help individual agencies understand their employees’ work-life needs and priorities, allowing senior leaders and managers to make evidence-based decisions about investments in these programs. Furthermore, OPM will analyze the governmentwide results to identify and share high-performing programs, common barriers and recommendations to create a culture and work environment that supports the productive and efficient use of work-life programs,” it said.
OPM includes some work-life related questions in its annual Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey but the main focus of that survey involves attitudes toward working conditions, personnel practices and management. That survey goes to virtually all federal workers, while a separate survey of views on benefits conducted every few years goes only to a sample; OPM did not say how extensive the upcoming survey will be nor how frequent.
