Survey Shows Workers Satisfied With Their Jobs, EM Leadership
Mike Nartker
WC Monitor
4/25/2014
A survey of employees within the Department of Energy’s Office of Environmental Management has found that workers appear to have significant concerns with how their performance—good or bad—is addressed. EM recently provided to WC Monitor specific data on the views of employees within the Department’s cleanup program from the 2013 Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey, which was conducted by the Office of Personnel Management. Approximately 800 EM employees chose to participate in the survey, according to DOE.
Of those surveyed in EM, more than 60 percent responded negatively to, “Pay raises depend on how well employees perform their jobs.” Almost half of the EM employees surveyed (49.5 percent) responded negatively to, “In my work unit, steps are taken to deal with a poor performer who cannot or will not improve”; and (44. 9 percent) to, “In my work unit, differences in performance are recognized in a meaningful way.” The survey found that 41.3 percent responded negatively to, “Awards in my work unit depend on how well employees perform their jobs,” while approximately 37 percent responded negatively to, “Promotions in my work unit are based on merit,” and to, “Creativity and innovation are rewarded.” About a third of those surveyed responded negatively to, “Employees are recognized for providing high quality products and services.”
Half of EM Employees Satisfied With Organization
The survey results also show, though, that EM employees appear to be largely satisfied with their work. According to the survey data, 51.6 percent responded positively to, “Considering everything, how satisfied are you with your organization?” Almost 60 percent responded positively to questions on satisfaction with their pay and with their jobs. Slightly more than half of those surveyed responded positively to, “How satisfied are you with your involvement in decisions that affect your work?” while 44.2 percent responded positively when asked about their satisifaction with “the policies and practices of your senior leaders.” However, 40.6 percent responded negatively when asked, “How satisfied are you with your opportunity to get a better job in your organization?”
EM Employees Appear to be Happy With Management
EM employees also appear to have a largely positive view toward the office’s leadership. Almost 60 percent of those surveyed responded positively to, “I have a high level of respect for my organization’s senior leaders,” while 61.3 percent responded positively when asked, “Overall, how good a job do you feel is being done by the manager directly above your immediate supervisor/team leader?” Slightly more than 55 percent responded positively to, “My organization’s leaders maintain high standards of honesty and integrity.” One area where employees expressed some concern, though, was motivation, with 35 percent responding negatively to, “In my organization, leaders generate high levels of motivation and commitment in the workforce.”
In a written response late this week, EM spokeswoman Candice Trummell said, “The survey results showed that EM employees across the complex have high job satisfaction. EM employees understand how the work they do helps advance the greater mission of cleaning up the legacy waste from the Manhattan Project and Cold War, they feel safe in their work environments, and they are supported in maintaining a work-life balance. The survey also identifies areas in which further improvement is needed. EM is focused on continuously improving as an organization so that we can attract and retain top talent, maximize employees’ productivity, and become an employer of choice in the federal government and in the communities in which we operate.”
