Bit o’History: Employee Survey from 2007

I ran across this in my files..since probably everyone from then is retired, I thought it worth sharing.  Some problems seem to be resolved (or adjusted to, like “burden shift”), while others are the same or worse.

X Forest Integrated Resource Review

September 2007

 Major Themes from Employee Surveys

 

Workload

• Frustration and stress cause by heavy, complex workload.
• Too many priorities and initiatives; targets too high.
• Overworked ID teams – too many projects, too few specialists.
• Burden shift – everyone must be an expert in travel, HR, computers, budget, etc.
• Mandatory training takes too much time.
• Need more LEOs to enforce travel management, etc.
• Failure to meet planning deadlines.

 

Working on the Right Things

• Too much time spent on planning vs. implementation, monitoring, on-the-ground work.
• Three themes are too vague, hard to measure
• Need to focus on travel management
• Pay more attention to recreation – increasing demand!
• Roads and trails are deteriorating
• Too much attention to public/interest group/political demands vs. needs on the ground.
• Good work in partnerships and volunteers.

 

Leadership

• Leaders need to say no more often to members of the public seeking permits, land exchanges, etc.
• Leaders need to set firm, clear priorities and say no to other expectations.
• Leaders need to communicate more, be more open about decisions.
• Leaders don’t deal with performance issues.  Need to hold people accountable.
• Leaders need to recognize and reward good work.

 

Service First

• Frustration with Service First: two sets of procedures, targets, priorities, etc.
• Service First provides good service to the public.
• Service First promotes integration.

 

Workforce Planning

• Cuts in workforce resulted in huge workloads.

• Employees feel their work isn’t respected.

• Employees stressed about coworkers losing their jobs.  Morale is low.

• Were the right cuts made?

• Leadership didn’t communicate well about workforce planning, withheld information.

• Impact on effectiveness (fire suppression, fuels, etc.).

• Wellness program reduced, but did it save money?