Feds feel job satisfaction

Federal employees' overall job satisfaction is about the same as in the

private sector, and it's particularly strong among feds who work for agencies

that have made reinvention a priority, according to results of a new federal

employee survey scheduled to be released today.

Vice President Al Gore's National Partnership for Reinventing Government

and the Office of Personnel Management sponsored the survey, which is designed

to help agencies assess employee satisfaction and the extent to which reinvention

has taken hold in their organizations.

The survey showed that 84 percent of employees who believe reinvention

is a priority in their office are satisfied with their jobs. The rate is

almost triple the 31 percent satisfaction rate of employees who do not believe

their office makes reinvention a priority.

The survey responses showed that overall job satisfaction in the federal

government — 60 percent — is about the same as for private business, but

federal employees give lower ratings to their immediate supervisors and

to the quality of work produced in their units.

Employees expressed the greatest dissatisfaction with how employee performance

is measured. Two out of three employees believe rewards are based on something

other than merit.

On average, 59 percent of employees said they have electronic access

to information needed to do their jobs.

The agencies receiving the highest overall employee satisfaction ratings:

* Census Bureau

* Environmental Protection Agency

* General Services Administration

* NASA

* National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

* Office of Personnel Management