A report from the Partnership for Public Service urges agency management to put more focus on training, career development and recognition of relatively newly hired employees, based on a closer look at Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey data used in producing that organization’s annual report on the best places to work in government.
“Once agencies hire employees, the data show that the honeymoon period does not last very long. The Best Places to Work government-wide employee satisfaction and commitment score, for example, drops from 72.3 to 62.5 on a scale of 100–a 10-point plunge–after the first year of federal employment, and the satisfaction rate never reaches the same level during an individual’s time in government. This trend holds true at agencies with both high and low Best Places to Work employee satisfaction and commitment score,” it says.
That score, based on questions asking whether the employee would recommend the organization as a good place to work and satisfaction with the organization and with their particular jobs, continues to slip to 58 percent for those with four to five years of experience and to 57 percent for those with six to 10 years. Afterward it starts climbing back up, although reaching only 62.4 percent for those with 20 or more years.
Federal employees under age 30 are also slightly less satisfied overall than all other employees, it added.
It suggested that managers: ask employees how they feel about their work and how their skills are being used and consider making changes or offering a new assignment or responsibility; look for training opportunities for their employees and give of their own time and advice; ask employees about their challenges in navigating the organization; express appreciation and thankfulness; and advance those who excel and be helpful to those who need to transition to a new job or organization.
