U.S. Railroad Retirement Board Annual Employee Survey Results, 2016

December 29, 2017

Background

Excerpt from the survey results document:

Once again, the responses to the employee survey are positive.

Though this year’s results are overall favorable, our response rate decreased in 2016 to 38% (compared to a government-wide response rate of 46%). Thirty six survey items were identified as strengths (65% positive or higher) while only two survey items were identified as challenges (35% negative or higher). We are pleased to report that our Engagement Index score met the Office of Personnel Management’s (OPM) goal for 2016 (67%) and met or exceeded the governmentwide score in all areas (Overall, Leaders Lead, Supervisors, and Intrinsic Work Experience). Our Global Satisfaction Index score of 67% also exceeded the governmentwide score in all areas (Job Satisfaction, Organization Satisfaction, Pay Satisfaction and Recommend Agency).

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Based on OPM’s guideline for determining notable results, we scored especially high (greater than 65% favorable-Strongly Agree/Agree) on the majority of the items for questions measuring personal work experiences. Over 91% of the respondents think the work they do is important (question 13) and 88% know how their work relates to the agency’s goals and priorities (question 12). Seventy-two percent of respondents feel their work gives them a feeling of personal accomplishment (question 4). Almost 80% of respondents like the kind of work they do (question 5, 77%) and feel they are held accountable for achieving results (question 16, 84%). Additionally, employees continued to feel supported by their supervisor to balance work and other life issues (question 42, 81 %).
On the other hand, the lowest scores were on items measuring performance culture and talent management-although these scores still represent only a minority of the employees that responded. For example, only 32% of the employees surveyed felt that pay raises depend on how well employees perform their jobs (question 33) and only 34% of the employees surveyed agree that steps are taken to deal with poor performers who do not improve (question 23). Only 38% percent of respondents feel creativity and innovation are rewarded (question 32).

This is an area we intend to concentrate on improving in the upcoming years.