ALCOAST 399/19 - DEC 2019 COAST GUARD 2019 FEDERAL EMPLOYEE VIEWPOINT SURVEY (FEVS) RESULTS

united states coast guard

R 260813 DEC 19
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//VCG//
TO ALCOAST
UNCLAS //N12900//
ALCOAST 399/19
COMDTNOTE 12900
SUBJ:  COAST GUARD 2019 FEDERAL EMPLOYEE VIEWPOINT SURVEY (FEVS) RESULTS
1. The Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey (FEVS) was administered from 23 May to 05
July 2019. As with 2018, it was a census survey, meaning every eligible Coast Guard
civilian employee was provided the opportunity to participate. Our Coast Guard response
rate was 40.0%, just slightly lower than 2018 (40.3%), and slightly trailing DHS (42.3%)
and Government-wide (42.6%) response rates. Thank you to all the civilian employees who
took the time to respond to this important workforce survey. The Office of Personnel
Management issued agency and component level results for the 2019 FEVS, including
Government-wide results.
2. On 24 September 2019, Acting Secretary Kevin K. McAleenan released a message to
all DHS employees that highlighted the Department’s improved FEVS results. The Acting
Secretary stated, “In addition to increased participation, I am pleased to announce
that we continued to see positive FEVS score results for the fourth year in a row.
Overall, the DHS Employee Engagement Index (EEI), a set of FEVS questions focusing on
engagement and morale, increased from 60% to 62%. In our operational components, the
United States Secret Service increased seven percentage points, and the United States
Coast Guard had the highest EEI of all components at 76%.”
3. The Coast Guard remains a leader across all of the measured engagement indices,
ranked first or second within the DHS components and above the DHS and Government-wide
scores. The Employee Engagement Index (EEI) measures employees’ sense of purpose that
is evident in their display of dedication, persistence, and effort in their work or
overall attachment to their organization and its missions. The 2019 FEVS results
reflect that the Coast Guard’s overall engagement index score improved 3% from 2018.
Additionally, 162 out of 184 (87%) of the reported Coast Guard organizations have a
65% or higher EEI score. Note: Reported organizations have 10 or more survey
respondents.
4. The Coast Guard results on the other measured engagement indices are equally
impressive. The Global Satisfaction Index measures employee satisfaction about four
aspects related to their work: their job, their pay, their organization, and whether
they would recommend their organization as a good place to work; the Coast Guard
score is 74%, an increase of 3% from 2018 and ranked second in DHS only slightly
behind USCIS. The New IQ Index measures inclusive workplace environments; the Coast
Guard score is 70%, an increase in 4% from 2018 and ranked highest in DHS.
5. OPM considers a positive response rating of 65% or more as a strength, and 35% or
higher negative response rating as a challenge. For the Coast Guard, 51 of the 74 core
survey items are identified as strengths, and only 2 as challenges. Analysis of the
highest percentage positive results shows the Coast Guard civilian employees are
willing to put forth extra effort to get the job done (97% positive); are constantly
looking for ways to do their jobs better (93% positive); believe the work they do is
important (92% positive); highly rate the overall quality of work done at their work
unit (89% positive); and know how their work relates to the agency's goals
(89% positive). Areas which Coast Guard civilians viewed as challenges, or the highest
percentages of negative responses, include believing that pay raises depend on how
well employees perform their jobs (41% negative) and having sufficient resources to
get their job done (35% negative). Other areas for improvement include: desire for
more opportunities for advancement, proper management of poor performers, and belief
that the survey results will be used to make the agency a better place to work.
6. A new COMDT (CG-12) CG Portal Page, FEVS and Engagement, has been created to host
Coast Guard level FEVS results, analysis tools, and engagement resources. The 2019 FEVS
Coast Guard Annual Employee Survey report (AES) and Coast Guard level reports are
posted here: https://cg.portal.uscg.mil/units/cg121/SitePages/FEVS.aspx. Detailed
organization level reports have been provided to senior leaders for review and action.
Organizations that are interested in conducting further analysis of results can use the
tools available on the CG Portal page to identify strengths and challenges, as well as
develop action plans for improvement. All leaders, managers, and supervisors are
encouraged to look further at your organization’s results, strengths and challenges,
so that we can work together to make continuous improvements.
7. I greatly appreciate your feedback and participation in the FEVS. The Commandant
and I are steadfast in our efforts to improve our work environment. We are committed
to using your feedback to continue to make the Coast Guard an employer of choice within
DHS and the entire Federal Government.
8. Contact Ms. Brooke Lawson for Coast Guard specific FEVS questions at 252-498-9860
or at Brooke.M.Lawson@uscg.mil.
9. ADM Charles W. Ray, Vice Commandant, sends.
10. Internet release is authorized.