Work environment issues are the biggest reason SES members leave the government, including such factors as senior leadership, the political environment, the organizational culture and lack of recognition for accomplishments, OPM has said in a report on the most recent exit survey of execs.
Those factors were cited by 43, 42, 37 and 34 percent of departing executives, who were allowed to cite all that applied to them. Lack of autonomy in decision making was cited by 33 percent, while issues such as job responsibilities, lack of opportunities for development and relationships with colleagues fell far behind.
The results reflect responses of 162 execs who left the government between August 2014 and July 2015; a previous report reflected responses of 221 who left between April 2013 and July 2014.
The results also showed a generally more negative mood overall. Only 57 percent would recommend their agency as a good place to work, down from 63 percent, and only 54 percent would recommend employment in the SES to others, down from 62 percent.