OPM plans to field employee survey next week

The long-delayed Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey will kick off on Sept. 14, the Office of Personnel Management announced.

The survey, which gauges employee satisfaction and engagement, is the basis for the annual "Best Places to Work in the Federal Government' index. The survey was supposed to launch in June but was subject to multiple delays because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As in past years, FEVS will be in the field for a six-week period. This year's survey will include a section on COVID-19 response.

Some agencies will see survey results in 2020, but most will begin to receive response data in 2021.

The lateness of the survey is a cause for concern for some lawmakers. In August, Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) demanded a briefing from OPM to explain the delays, while Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) brought up FEVS at the Sept. 9 confirmation hearing of John Gibbs, the nominee to lead OPM.

OPM urged agency heads to support participation in the survey, which is voluntary, by telling employees "about steps being taken based on the findings within your agencies and what the outcomes of those efforts have been." OPM also suggested letting employees complete the survey while on the clock to boost participation.