Morale for US federal Employees Hits Record Lows

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**Easy E**

http://www.nextgov.com/cio-briefing/wired-workplace/2012/12/morale-among-feds-drops-lowest-level-decade/60136/

Federal employee job satisfaction has hit its lowest level in nearly 10 years and continues to trail that of private sector employee satisfaction, which has remained relatively constant, according to the new Best Places to Work in the FederalGovernment rankings by the nonprofit Partnership for Public Service andDeloitte.

The results showed a governmentwide employee satisfaction score of 60.8 out of 100, the lowest point since 2003, when the rankings first launched. That represents a 5 percent decrease from 2011 and is the largest change in the history of the rankings. At the same time, private sector employee satisfaction has maintained a score of 70 out of 100,according to Hay Group.

“The declining job satisfaction levels across the federal government come during turbulent times, with employees buffeted by many uncertainties and feeling the effects of hiring slowdowns, buyouts, increased retirements, budget constraints and a two-and-a-half year pay freeze that runs until the spring of 2013,” the report states.

The data also show a decline in each of the other 10 workplace categories ranked by the Partnership and Deloitte. Satisfaction with pay, for example, showed the most significant drop, falling 4.1 points between 2011 and 2012 and 3.9 points between 2010 and 2011. Satisfaction with rewards and advancement also showed a steep decrease, falling 2.5 percent from 2011. Other categories – like teamwork, leadership, work-life balance and support for diversity – experienced slight declines among feds.

Of the 33 large agencies, NASA received the highest satisfaction score of 72.8 out of 100. Other top large agencies were the intelligence community (70.8), State (68.2) and Commerce (67.9) departments, the Environmental Protection Agency (67.6) and the Social Security Administration (66.4).

The 2012 rankings mark the first year the Partnership included medium-sized agencies, many of which were previously included in the large agency category. Among medium-size agencies, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (83.3), Government Accountability Office (75.7), Nuclear Regulatory Commission (75.5) and Smithsonian Institution (75.5) took the top spots.

Among small agencies, the Surface Transportation Board ranked first for the fourth survey in a row. Other top-ranked small agencies were the Congressional Budget Office (84.2), the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (82.4) and the PeaceCorps (81.5).

The Homeland Security (52.9) and Veterans Affairs (56.7) departments were the lowest rated large agencies, while the National Archives and Records Administration (47.4) and Broadcasting Board of Governors (46.8) also ranked at the bottom among medium-size agencies. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (34.7) and the Federal Maritime Commission (32.7) were ranked at the bottom among small agencies and received the lowest satisfaction scores among all federal agencies.

Despite the overall decline in federal employee satisfaction, a few agencies actually saw increases in employee satisfaction. The Office of Management and Budget, for example, was the most improved agency, with employee satisfaction increasing 13.3 points since 2011. The Transportation Department also defied the governmentwide trend, with employee satisfaction rising 4.1 points over 2011 levels.

“These agencies prove that even in the most challenging climates it is possible to improve employee engagement,” the report states.

Is satisfaction with your federal job at an all-time low? Do better satisfaction and hiring prospects in the private sector, particularlyfor IT workers, have you wanting to jump ship?

I can't imagine why the would be feeling a bit down in the mouth lately?

**djones520**

No mention of the DoD or did I miss something?

**Frazzled**

Awesome. Half of them should immediately quit. Lets leave those positions unfilled and reduce budgets accordingly. It will be a good start.

I'll just leave this here.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/us-military-has-10-kinds-of-camouflage-uniforms-government-duplication-at-its-finest/2013/05/08/58f2fe4e-b67c-11e2-bd07-b6e0e6152528_story.html?hpid=z3

**Dreadclaw69**

That might explain why the site that I check my USCIS paperwork on hasn't been updated since Feb 28th, and its meant to be updated every 15 days

**Rented Tritium**

When everyone is talking about how lazy you are and how you should be fired, your motivation goes down pretty quickly.

**Dreadclaw69**

Having worked in the public sector for years before I moved to the US my motivation was impacted more by my co-workers antics than what people outside the organisation thought

**Frazzled**

Rented Tritium wrote:
When everyone is talking about how lazy you are and how you should be fired, your motivation goes down pretty quickly.

Strangely I'm always motivated by: 1) my paycheck; 2) what my boss and specialists I deal with think; 3) doing at least a decent job.

**djones520**

A lot of my motivation and morale is largely dependant on my immediate chain of command, and clear knowledge of my mission.

It's hard to have both when I'm burdened with bad leadership, and no knowledge of why I'm doing what I'm doing.

My current job, I've got a problem with bad leadership, but I'm very aware of how things I do affect the world, so lifes a bit frustrating at times, but all in all ok.

**Vulcan**

With me it's 1) Professional pride, 2) My paycheck, and... well, somewhere around 100th or so comes 'what my boss thinks' because he inevitably has the idea that I am easily replaceable so why should I care what he thinks?

He may be right, but judging by what happened at past employers it takes an average of three people to do what I do alone.

**Jihadin**

The beating will continue till morale improves......

**Dreadclaw69**

You'd be surprised/shocked/horrified (delete as appropriate) just how prevalent that attitude is

**Jihadin**

LOL I remember my "Smoke Sessions" when I first came into the Army early 90's...back when you can smoke a soldier..literally...compare to "get him/her" with counseling statements..Since we're going back to a peace time Military...well..I'm happy to have both experience from peace to a war time Military.

**Polonius**

As a federal employee, I know that a lot are basically unemployable in the private sector. Few if any Federal employees would mind a 10% reduction in force, as long is it was the 10% that actively slow down work. Of course, nobody thinks that's likely.

Federal service is package deal: you get good benefits and decent pay, plus relatively good job security. In exchange, you give up any career flexibility. I have an incredible skill set that is of zero value to anybody outside of my agency.

**d-usa**

Frozen pay for how long? Hiring freeze for how long? Not knowing if you have to take forced days off and a pay cut?

Can't understand the results of this survey...

**Tannhauser42**

Polonius wrote:
As a federal employee, I know that a lot are basically unemployable in the private sector. Few if any Federal employees would mind a 10% reduction in force, as long is it was the 10% that actively slow down work. Of course, nobody thinks that's likely.

Federal service is package deal: you get good benefits and decent pay, plus relatively good job security. In exchange, you give up any career flexibility. I have an incredible skill set that is of zero value to anybody outside of my agency.

Agreed. Those that should go if/when the Reductions In Force come around, won't be the ones to go. My skill set has become very narrowly focused on the specific work that I do. To go outside my agency, I would be looking at entry level clerical/date entry work for 60% of what I make now, and everything I've learned to do for my current job will be useless. While my position does exist outside the agency, it only does so in very small numbers.

d-usa wrote:
Frozen pay for how long? Hiring freeze for how long? Not knowing if you have to take forced days off and a pay cut?

Can't understand the results of this survey...

Yep. No cost of living adjustment. No new hires for four years now (my agency has been on a self imposed hiring freeze for that long, only filling mission critical positions). No furloughs this year, thankfully, because our CFO saw this coming for the past four years and has prepared for it. But unless something changes, there will be furloughs for us next year.

Mismanagement is also an issue, or at least out-of-touch management that isn't focused on the right goals.

**Bromsy**

Yeah, we're just coming off a three year pay freeze, and they cut all the overtime (unless you are buddies with a manager) because of the sequester. At least we didn't get furloughed I guess.

**IronWarLeg**

Sorry to interrupt the Federal Employee bashing by some, let me explain, as a Federal Employee, what I have gone through since beginning to work for the IRS in 2010:

3 year hiring freeze, resulting in the same night shift since I have been employed. Was told I would be able to change in a year or so, I see my kids during the week about a half hour a day.

3 year pay freeze, whats that Mr. Hood? you have gotten 5.0 out of 5.0 on each of your evaluations? Good Job lets reward you with not a pay increase, but instead were going to take away any bonuses you have ALREADY EARNED AND WERE PROMISED BY CONTRACT so the average joe may only have 5 furlough days instead of 6.

Furlough Days!! Yay for unpaid days off!

We are currently doing the job of 250 call site employees with a full staff of 136~ people. We can not meet expectations with full staffing (meaning 100% attendance) and our call site suffers for it.

Hearing constantly how I am overpaid and have AWESOMESAWCE!!!!!!one! benefits that are SUPER cheap!!! I pay over 400$ a month to insure my family with decent medical and dental, last I checked that's pretty average for a family of 4. I make less than private sector collectors as they are paid on commission, and maybe 1.50 more an hour than those who are straight hourly.

I will be the first to admit I do have good job security as I work collections for the IRS, people always gonna owe, but honestly I would scoop dog crap for the same money.

People LOVE to think how bloated we are and over staffed the federal workforce is, problem is they seem to lump Federal Employees together, where my agency is extremely under manned due to attrition and people leaving for greener pastures, there are other agencys who are not, or whos staffing level has very little impact on their ability to serve the public.

**sebster**

Frazzled wrote:
Awesome. Half of them should immediately quit. Lets leave those positions unfilled and reduce budgets accordingly. It will be a good start.

I'll just leave this here.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/us-military-has-10-kinds-of-camouflage-uniforms-government-duplication-at-its-finest/2013/05/08/58f2fe4e-b67c-11e2-bd07-b6e0e6152528_story.html?hpid=z3

What's that? Vague ideological driven assumptions and a random anecdote... yep that sounds like a great way to set policy to me.

Automatically Appended Next Post:

Polonius wrote:
As a federal employee, I know that a lot are basically unemployable in the private sector. Few if any Federal employees would mind a 10% reduction in force, as long is it was the 10% that actively slow down work. Of course, nobody thinks that's likely.

That's true of most any office, private or public. The thing I've learned from bouncing from job to job is that nothing is ever really that different, 20% of people do 80% of the work, and every office could cut 10% of the workforce and get more done, if only they could agree on exactly which 10% is slowing everyone else down, and everything that's centralised needs to be de-centralised, and everything that is de-centralised needs to be centralised.

Really, I think it's just the nature of bureaucracy.

**Frazzled**

IronWarLeg wrote:
Sorry to interrupt the Federal Employee bashing by some, let me explain, as a Federal Employee, what I have gone through since beginning to work for the IRS in 2010:

3 year hiring freeze, resulting in the same night shift since I have been employed. Was told I would be able to change in a year or so, I see my kids during the week about a half hour a day.

3 year pay freeze, whats that Mr. Hood? you have gotten 5.0 out of 5.0 on each of your evaluations? Good Job lets reward you with not a pay increase, but instead were going to take away any bonuses you have ALREADY EARNED AND WERE PROMISED BY CONTRACT so the average joe may only have 5 furlough days instead of 6.

Furlough Days!! Yay for unpaid days off!

We are currently doing the job of 250 call site employees with a full staff of 136~ people. We can not meet expectations with full staffing (meaning 100% attendance) and our call site suffers for it.

Hearing constantly how I am overpaid and have AWESOMESAWCE!!!!!!one! benefits that are SUPER cheap!!! I pay over 400$ a month to insure my family with decent medical and dental, last I checked that's pretty average for a family of 4. I make less than private sector collectors as they are paid on commission, and maybe 1.50 more an hour than those who are straight hourly.

I will be the first to admit I do have good job security as I work collections for the IRS, people always gonna owe, but honestly I would scoop dog crap for the same money.

People LOVE to think how bloated we are and over staffed the federal workforce is, problem is they seem to lump Federal Employees together, where my agency is extremely under manned due to attrition and people leaving for greener pastures, there are other agencys who are not, or whos staffing level has very little impact on their ability to serve the public.

Just quit then.

**d-usa**

If you don't like it just quit the country and go somewhere without federal employees

**Valion**

d-usa wrote:
If you don't like it just quit the country and go somewhere without federal employees

That seems drastic. What's wrong with the private sector, aside from the fact that you actually can get fired for poor performance?

**djones520**

Valion wrote:
d-usa wrote:
If you don't like it just quit the country and go somewhere without federal employees

That seems drastic. What's wrong with the private sector, aside from the fact that you actually can get fired for poor performance?

I hate that! We have a waste of air civilian employee here, and we can't get rid of him... drives me nuts.

**d-usa**

Hey, federal employees can hyperbole too. I didn't know it was restricted to anti-federal government employee people...

**Frazzled**

d-usa wrote:
If you don't like it just quit the country and go somewhere without federal employees

Nah, I'd rather just cut the budget and wack them wholesale.

**d-usa**

Frazzled wrote:
d-usa wrote:
If you don't like it just quit the country and go somewhere without federal employees

Nah, I'd rather just cut the budget and wack them wholesale.

I'll let you wack federal employees if you let me wack all the lawyers

**Frazzled**

d-usa wrote:
Frazzled wrote:
d-usa wrote:
If you don't like it just quit the country and go somewhere without federal employees

Nah, I'd rather just cut the budget and wack them wholesale.

I'll let you wack federal employees if you let me wack all the lawyers

Only if I can join in.

"First we kill all the lawyers."
-Shakespeare

**Rented Tritium**

Not being able to fire government workers is actually something that was caused by the anti-government crowd.

They put in place a TON of rules about hiring to prevent the government from growing, but now when you fire someone who sucks, you have to go through 6 months of red tape to rehire. If there is a hiring freeze, then you can't rehire at all.

If you actually LET THEM HIRE PEOPLE like NORMAL BOSSES, they would be more willing to fire people.

**djones520**

Rented Tritium wrote:
Not being able to fire government workers is actually something that was caused by the anti-government crowd.

They put in place a TON of rules about hiring to prevent the government from growing, but now when you fire someone who sucks, you have to go through 6 months of red tape to rehire. If there is a hiring freeze, then you can't rehire at all.

If you actually LET THEM HIRE PEOPLE like NORMAL BOSSES, they would be more willing to fire people.

Ummm... from my knowledge of the process, that's not at all how it works. The contract pretty much makes it impossible to fire. When we do get an open slot, hiring someone is pretty damn easy and doesn't take much time at all.

**Frazzled**

djones520 wrote:
Rented Tritium wrote:
Not being able to fire government workers is actually something that was caused by the anti-government crowd.

They put in place a TON of rules about hiring to prevent the government from growing, but now when you fire someone who sucks, you have to go through 6 months of red tape to rehire. If there is a hiring freeze, then you can't rehire at all.

If you actually LET THEM HIRE PEOPLE like NORMAL BOSSES, they would be more willing to fire people.

Ummm... from my knowledge of the process, that's not at all how it works. The contract pretty much makes it impossible to fire. When we do get an open slot, hiring someone is pretty damn easy and doesn't take much time at all.

Yes, if it were true then why is oit so hard to fire state and local employees as well? Its almost like they are in a union or something.

**CptJake**

Frazzled wrote:
IronWarLeg wrote:
Sorry to interrupt the Federal Employee bashing by some, let me explain, as a Federal Employee, what I have gone through since beginning to work for the IRS in 2010:

3 year hiring freeze, resulting in the same night shift since I have been employed. Was told I would be able to change in a year or so, I see my kids during the week about a half hour a day.

3 year pay freeze, whats that Mr. Hood? you have gotten 5.0 out of 5.0 on each of your evaluations? Good Job lets reward you with not a pay increase, but instead were going to take away any bonuses you have ALREADY EARNED AND WERE PROMISED BY CONTRACT so the average joe may only have 5 furlough days instead of 6.

Furlough Days!! Yay for unpaid days off!

We are currently doing the job of 250 call site employees with a full staff of 136~ people. We can not meet expectations with full staffing (meaning 100% attendance) and our call site suffers for it.

Hearing constantly how I am overpaid and have AWESOMESAWCE!!!!!!one! benefits that are SUPER cheap!!! I pay over 400$ a month to insure my family with decent medical and dental, last I checked that's pretty average for a family of 4. I make less than private sector collectors as they are paid on commission, and maybe 1.50 more an hour than those who are straight hourly.

I will be the first to admit I do have good job security as I work collections for the IRS, people always gonna owe, but honestly I would scoop dog crap for the same money.

People LOVE to think how bloated we are and over staffed the federal workforce is, problem is they seem to lump Federal Employees together, where my agency is extremely under manned due to attrition and people leaving for greener pastures, there are other agencys who are not, or whos staffing level has very little impact on their ability to serve the public.

Just quit then.

He also didn't mention the step increases they use to get around the pay freeze... If he didn't get one, he was substandard and his boss let him know it.

Automatically Appended Next Post:

Jihadin wrote:
LOL I remember my "Smoke Sessions" when I first came into the Army early 90's...back when you can smoke a soldier..literally...compare to "get him/her" with counseling statements..Since we're going back to a peace time Military...well..I'm happy to have both experience from peace to a war time Military.

I had some NCOs who were absolute MASTERS at creative corrective training techniques.