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Federal Employee Satisfaction Shows Modest Improvement in 2024

Federal workers have reported a slight improvement in their overall perceptions of their employer, as reflected in the recently released data from the 2024 Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey (FEVS). The survey results, published by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) on Thursday, indicate a generally positive sentiment among federal employees compared to the previous year.

A highlight of the findings is the record-high employee engagement index score, which stands at 73 out of 100, representing a one-point increase from 2023. This index assesses various dimensions of employee experience, including perceptions of leadership, supervisor support, and overall satisfaction in the workplace.

Improvements in employee engagement were noted across various agency sizes, with large and medium-sized agencies each gaining two percentage points, leading to scores of 73% and 77%, respectively. Conversely, very small agencies experienced a slight decline, dropping one point to 76%, demonstrating a notable decrease of five points since 2020.

The survey revealed that a substantial 87% of respondents feel that their supervisors treat them with respect. Additionally, 78% of employees expressed trust and confidence in their supervisors, while 79% indicated that their supervisors actively support their professional development.

In addressing these encouraging survey outcomes, officials attributed the positive trends to the Biden administration’s ongoing initiatives aimed at enhancing the federal workforce. These initiatives include increased hiring practices, reinforced civil service protections, and improved labor relations.

“Leaders across the Biden-Harris Administration — and managers and supervisors across government — have prioritized rebuilding their workforces and engaging them on the issues most important to them,” said acting OPM Director Rob Shriver. “And now we are seeing the results, with the highest ever score on the Employee Engagement Index, and strong results across the board.”

Conducted annually, the FEVS encompasses a range of employees from large departments and agencies, as well as smaller independent entities that opt to participate. This year’s survey saw an increase in participation, with a response rate of 41%, up from 39% in 2023.

Additional notable findings from the survey include:

• The index measuring employees’ feelings about diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in the workplace rose to 72 out of 100, up from 71 in 2023, marking a consistent annual improvement since its introduction in 2022.
• Employee satisfaction, encompassing aspects such as job fulfillment, organizational commitment, and compensation, saw a one-point increase to 65, although this remains below the 2020 benchmark of 69.
• Perceptions of work unit effectiveness remained stable at 84 out of 100, unchanged since 2021.
• The employee experience index, which evaluates how engaged employees feel with their work and organization, climbed from 73 to 74 this year.

However, challenges remain, as 40% of respondents noted that poor performers within their units continue to underperform, a slight improvement from the prior year.

OPM plans to unveil agency-specific data from the 2024 FEVS later this year, which will provide further insight into these trends.

Source
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