A survey of employees in the Department of Energy’s Office of Environmental Management has found that approximately 60 percent are satisfied with their jobs, but less are satisfied with the organization as a whole, according to information EM provided to Weapons Complex Morning Briefing late last week. The results of the 2014 Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey, for which 663 EM employees took part, largely mirror the results of last year’s survey in most areas. For the question, “Considering everything, how satisfied are you with your job,” 58.10 percent of EM survey respondents answered positively, while 21.70 percent provided a neutral answer and 20.30 percent provided a negative answer. When asked how satisfied they were with their organization, slightly less than half (49.40 percent) responded positively, while 24.40 percent responded neutrally and 26.20 percent responded negatively.
This year’s survey found that approximately half of EM’s workforce appears to have a positive view of the organization’s senior leadership. Approximately 52 percent of those surveyed responded positively to the statement, “I have a high level of respect for my organization’s senior leaders,” while 21.8 percent responded neutrally and 25.4 percent responded negatively. The statement, “My organization’s senior leaders maintain high standards of honesty and integrity” generated similar results. Those EM employees surveyed appeared to have a more negative reaction, though, to the statement, “In my organization senior leaders generate high levels of motivation and commitment in the workforce,” to which 37.8 percent responded positively, 23.5 percent responded neutrally and 38.7 percent responded negatively.
Also similar to last year’s survey results, EM employees this year expressed concern with how their performance—either good or bad—is measured and addressed. Approximately 47 percent of those surveyed responded negatively to the statements, “In my work unit, steps are taken to deal with a poor performer who cannot or will not improve” and “In my work unit, differences in performance are recognized in a meaningful way,” while approximately 25 percent responded positively to each. More than 40 percent of those surveyed responded negatively to the statement, “Promotions in my work unit are based on merit,” while just under 30 percent responded positively. Approximately 60 percent responded negatively to, “Pay raises depend on how well employees perform their jobs,” while approximately 13 percent responded positively. EM did not respond to a request for comment yesterday on the survey results.
