FEDERAL WORKFORCE: Preliminary Observations on Strengthening Employee Engagement During Challenging Times

Abstract

A growing body of research on both private- and public-sector organizations has found that increased levels of engagementgenerally defined as the sense of purpose and commitment employees feel towards their employer and its missioncan lead to better organizational performance. This testimony is based on GAOs ongoing work examining the federal governments efforts to improve employee engagement, including (1) trends in employee engagement from 2006 through 2014; (2) practices that could strengthen engagement levels based on the EEI results and the experiences of selected agencies and GAO; and (3) certain limitations of the EEI that will be important for agency managers and leaders to consider as they use this metric to assess and improve engagement within their own organizations. To identify engagement trends, GAO analyzed responses to FEVS questions from 2006 through 2014 from which the EEI is derived. To identify drivers of the EEI in 2014, GAO conducted a regression analysis. To identify practices that could strengthen engagement, GAO interviewed officials at OPM and three case study agencies (selected for sustained or increased EEI levels) that were responsible for engagement efforts.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 16, 2015
Accession Number
AD1099420

Entities

Organizations

  • United States Government Accountability Office

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Business Administration
  • Commerce
  • Data Analysis
  • Employment
  • Equal Employment Opportunity
  • Governments
  • Information Science
  • Management Personnel
  • National Governments
  • Organizational Structure
  • Performance Appraisals
  • Personnel Management
  • Public Policy
  • Regression Analysis
  • Training
  • United States
  • United States Government

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