Beginning in early 2017, OPM will release a survey that focuses on federal employee’s work-life balance and priorities in life. The Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey (FEVS) is already in place. It measures how satisfied employees are with pay, their job, and the conditions they in which they work. However, this new survey is part of an initiative to better understand employees’ work-life needs.
OPM is trying to develop and sustain an engaged workforce and retain them. Acting OPM Director Beth Cobert had this to say, “The data collected will also help individual agencies understand their employee’s work-life needs and priorities, allowing senior leaders and managers to make evidence-based decisions about investment in these programs. Furthermore, OPM will analyze the government-wide results. They will identify and share high-performing programs, common barriers, and recommendations to create a culture and work environment that supports the productive and efficient use of work-life programs.”
The Office of Personnel Management is trying to shift their focus more to workplace flexibilities and employee wellness. OPM will use the results to learn how the government compares to the private sector on work-life balance. Additionally, they hope to identify programs that are working well and help agencies understand the needs of their employees.
