A “performance confidence” index introduced in the 2020 survey has slipped from 87 to 85 to now 84. Image: Tero Vesalainen/Shutterstock.com
By: FEDweek StaffA measure of overall satisfaction of the federal workforce slipped from 64 to 62 percent positive in the latest Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey. That’s the lowest since the 61 of 2016; in 2017-2021 it had been 64, 64, 65, 69 and 64.
That index measures responses to questions about satisfaction with the job, pay and organization and willingness to recommend the organization as a place to work, although unlike in last years, OPM did not break down the overall score by those elements, nor give an explanation for the decline. It had attributed the five-point decline from 2020 to 2021 in part to dissatisfaction of some employees with agency return-to-office policies, which have continued and expanded this year (see related story).
Another long-running index, of overall employee engagement, held steady at 71, one point below the score of 2020; OPM said that compares well with a comparable private sector index that has fallen by four points over the last two years. In that case, OPM did provide a breakdown, showing once again that employees hold a higher positive view of their immediate supervisors than of higher leadership, 80 to 59 percent, with views of the “intrinsic work experience” at 73 percent positive.
A “performance confidence” index introduced in the 2020 survey has slipped from 87 to 85 to now 84. That measures responses to questions about whether their work unit meets customer needs, contributes positively to agency performance, produces high quality work, adapts to changing priorities and achieves goals. OPM did not provide a breakdown of those elements.
The results did show a notable change in another topic introduced into the survey in recent years, asking what happens with poor performers in the person’s work unit. While in the 2019-2021 surveys only 2 percent said such persons quit, in this year’s survey 6 percent said that. Meanwhile, 42 percent said those persons remain in the work unit and underperform, continuing a downward trend over that period for that response from the 56 percent in 2019. The rest said such persons improve or are removed/transferred, or that there are no underperformers in their unit.
Two new indices were introduced in this year’s survey reflecting responses to some prior questions and some new ones added for that purpose. Sixty-nine percent had positive perceptions of agency practices related to DEIA—with the highest score within that being for inclusion—while in a new index of innovation, 64 percent of employees said they consistently look for new ways to improve work and 56 percent said management encourages innovation.
The survey was conducted in the spring, putting it back on its traditional schedule after having been delayed to the fall of both 2020 and 2021 for pandemic-related reasons.
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See also,
January Retirement COLA Set: 8.7 Percent for CSRS, 7.7 Percent for FERS
The Government Pension Offset and Social Security
Windfall Elimination Provision Getting Attention in Congress
Why Federal Employees Quit: It’s Not All about Pay
Employees Value TSP, Annuity, FEHB Most Highly, Survey Finds
FERS Retirement Planning Bundle: 2022 FERS Guide & TSP Handbook
