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Homeland Security rated low by workers
By BEVERLEY LUMPKIN, Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) – The Homeland Security Department received the lowest scores for job satisfaction on a federal survey, “a clear and jolting message,” the No. 2 official told agency workers.
The most satisfied employees worked at NASA and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, according to the survey by the Office of Personnel Management.
The survey released Tuesday ranked 36 agencies on measures of job satisfaction, leadership and agency performance.
Homeland Security, as noted by Deputy Secretary Michael Jackson, ranked:
-36th on job satisfaction.
-35th on leadership and knowledge management.
-36th on results-oriented performance culture.
-33rd on talent management.
“These results deliver a clear and jolting message from managers and line employees alike,” Jackson wrote employees. His memo was obtained by The Associated Press from an aide who requested anonymity because it has not been released publicly.
Starting up the new department, Jackson said, “is clearly not a walk in the park.”
He added that employees have “shouldered the weight of long hours, complex integration assignments, multiple reorganizations, and no small amount of criticism” since the department was created in March 2003.
Almost since then, criticism of the department, an amalgam of 22 different agencies with varied responsibilities, has been widespread, particularly on Capitol Hill.
“I read this report with grave concern, especially since OPM reported similar results in 2004 and not much has improved,” said Rep. Christopher Carney, D-Pa, chairman of the management subcommittee of the House Homeland Security Committee.
“Widespread dissatisfaction with management and leadership creates a morale problem that affects the safety of this nation,” Carney added, saying he will hold hearings on the issue.
Union representatives were dismayed, too, by the new evidence of serious morale problems.
“I have told DHS leaders from the start that this department cannot succeed without listening to and respecting the voices of experienced, front-line employees,” said Colleen Kelley, president of the National Treasury Employees Union.
Jackson promised that he, Secretary Michael Chertoff and others will analyze the details of the survey and seek advice from the agencies that scored higher.
The government survey was intended to give federal managers insight into work force issues that need attention.
The top agencies for job satisfaction were the White House Office of Management and Budget, the NRC and NASA.
On the question of leadership and knowledge management, the first three were the NRC, NASA and the National Science Foundation.
For the category of results-oriented performance culture, the top three were the foundation, the Federal Trade Commission and NASA.
For talent management, the rankings were led by the NRC, the National Credit Union Administration and NASA.
Corra realizes that working for Homeland Security has to be a thankless job. Then again, having read, heard and even experienced various occurrences with TSA makes Corra and just about everyone else wonder who has been minding the store. What store? Then there is the Homeland Security aspects of Katrina, and then the list goes on from there.
In fairness, you do have hard working people in search of decent management and leadership. Having seen management and leadership on the news, Corra finds it a small wonder that the employees complain.
The thing is, are you employees grousing about your management and leadership? When you hire managers and leaders are they the right fit for your organization? Or are they, too, causing grievances and morale issues, and possible litigious circumstances where you, the company are liable. Litigation can get expensive.
Corra suggests you run extensive background searches on those who management and run your company. There are criminal checks and credit checks, employment and education verifications, which indicate certain aspects of behavior individually, but collectively such searches show a picture that is more the some of its parts.
So heed Corra and spend the time reviewing your managerial candidates. And check them out before you hire.
