Feds like their work but want more recognition, survey finds

Almost all of the 221,479 federal employees who responded to the Office of Personnel Management's 2006 Federal Human Capital Survey believe their work is important. A full 90 percent said it is, and 83 percent believe they understand how their work contributes to fulfilling the agency's mission.The survey, the third OPM has conducted since 2002, included a much larger number of participants, both in total and in percentage of the overall workforce, than ever before, said OPM Director Linda Springer at the study's official release event today."Despite all of the challenges federal workers are going through, the things that scored well [in past surveys] continue to score well," she said.But the areas that scored less well remain problem areas, she said. Only 49 percent of employees are satisfied with the recognition they get for doing a good job. Only 29 percent believe their agencies take steps to deal with poorly performing colleagues.Springer said OPM is trying to implement changes to improve some of the low-rated areas, but said it won't happen fast."These are long-term institutional things that take time," she said.OPM released only the governmentwide results today. Survey findings for individual agencies will be released in two weeks.