Despite the coronavirus pandemic and the unprecedented move to remote work caused by the public health crisis, Federal employee satisfaction is up, according to preliminary results from the 2020 OPM Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey.
According to the report, job satisfaction among Federal employees has continued to rise over the past four years – from 66.2 percent in 2016 to 71.6 percent in 2020. Job satisfaction in 2020 increased by three percentage points from 2019, when it was at 68.6 percent.
“A preview of the governmentwide results are heartening,” said OPM’s then-Acting Director Michael Rigas on Jan. 19, the day before the Biden administration took over and named Kathleen McGettigan acting director.
“Through the toughest times, employees have been resilient and motivated while supervisors and senior leaders alike have served employees well by embracing their roles to keep employees safe and informed,” Rigas said.
The report also highlights new COVID-19 specific content, indicating that over three-quarters of the workforce said their senior leadership provided effective communications about the pandemic.
Additionally, 85 percent of respondents said their supervisor “supported their efforts to stay healthy and safe during the pandemic.”
“The Federal workforce remains resilient and motivated to serve the American people through even the most challenging times,” Rigas said.
