DOJ, DHS Near Bottom of Best Places to Work Rankings
The annual list of Best Places in Work in the Federal Government is out and many law enforcement agencies struggled with their employee satisfaction and engagement scores.
The Partnership for Public Service and Boston Consulting Group developed the list using data from the Office of Personnel Management’s (OPM) Federal Employee Viewpoints Survey (FEVS).
The ranking is based on three core prompts:
I recommend my organization as a good place to work.
Considering everything, how satisfied are you with your job?
Considering everything, how satisfied are you with your organization?
Department of Homeland Security
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ranked 16 out of 17 large agencies on its engagement and satisfaction score. Only the Social Security Administration ranked lower. The DHS score dropped slightly from the prior year.
Some of the DHS subcomponents scoring on the higher end include the U.S. Coast Guard (190 out of 432 subagencies (tie)), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (190 out of 432 (tie)), and Citizenship and Immigration Services (227 out of 432).
The Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) ranked 326 with a score of 63.1 and the U.S. Secret Service came in at number 375 with a score of 58.4.
A few DHS agencies find themselves close to the basement. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) ranked 418 with a score of 52. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) ranked 419 among agency subcomponents with a score of 51.2. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) ranked 427 out of 432 with a score of just 45.2.
Department of Justice
The Department of Justice (DOJ) finished 15 out of 17 large agencies. DOJ’s score dropped more than four points from the prior year.
The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) finished last in agency subcomponents, with an engagement and satisfaction score of just 35.5.
The highest-ranking DOJ subcomponent was the Environment and Natural Resources Division which ranked number 20 with an 85.8 score.
Other DOJ subagencies to note are the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) which ranked 239 with a score of 68.5.
The U.S. Marshals service ranked 281 with a satisfaction score of 66.5. The FBI finished ranked 386 with a score of 57.2 while the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) ranked 250 with a score of 68.
Overall Satisfaction Slips
Overall, the government’s employee satisfaction and engagement score dipped to 63.4 in 2022 a 1.1 point decrease. While lower than the previous year, the decrease is still less than the 4.5 point drop that the survey found in 2021, indicating that while engagement and satisfaction continue to decrease, the lag is not as dramatic as previous years.
Workforce measurements including feds’ perceptions of leadership, work-life balance, and innovation also showed poorer results in the Partnership’s analysis this year.
The downturn in employee engagement and satisfaction came as federal leaders were making decisions about returning to the office post-pandemic and dealing with new challenges surrounding hybrid work. There were also issues with uncertainty surrounding pay raises with rising inflation and demand to implement major legislative initiatives.
The Partnership for Public Service notes that “This troubling two-year trend represents a clear signal that the Biden administration and leaders across government need to urgently address workforce concerns with proactive efforts. Having a highly motivated and engaged workforce is critical to a well-functioning government and the success of our country.”
Meanwhile, OPM is preparing for the 2023 FEVS. In a memo, OPM Director Kiran Ahuja said the survey is on track to be administered in early May.