Many Denver City and County employees feel that their departments fail to recognize good performance and don’t hold poorly-performing employees accountable, according to the 2007 Citywide Employee Attitude Survey released today.
Only 49 percent felt that top performers are recognized and only 46 percent believe slackers are held accountable.
The survey was released this afternoon at a meeting of the Denver Board of Ethics by Maria Bane, a human resources specialist with the Career Service Authority.
Bane said the survey was given to 8,353 full and part-time Career Service employees in October. Out of the more than 8,000 employees who received the survey, 3,732 employees completed it – a 45 percent response, Bane said.
It is the highest response rate obtained from the survey since it began in 2001. The employees were surveyed in 2001, 2003, 2005 and 2006.
Only 38 percent of those responding felt their salaries are competitive with similar jobs they might find outside the city payroll. Only 40 percent believe that discipline is administered fairly and consistently to all employees in their department or agency. And only 51 percent felt secure in speaking up about department practices and policies that are ethically questionable.
But while the employees had deep concerns about salary, recognition for their work and being able to speak out about what they saw as ethical problems, most say that their morale is good and they are committed to “achieving the goals of the city.”
Seventy-five percent said they “strongly agree” or “agree” with the statement that they feel positive about working for the city. Seventy-seven percent said that they feel as “productive as I can be”. Eighty-six percent said they are motivated to “do good work.” Seventy-seven percent said they are satisfied with their jobs. And 88 percent said they are committed to achieving the goals of the city.
Only in 2001 was the morale higher. Commitment to the city goals and motivation were at an all-time high.
Reflecting this work ethic were results in which 90 percent felt that their work group is dedicated to satisfying the expectations of customers and citizens. Ninety-two percent felt their department is serious about maintaining a work environment free of drugs and alcohol.
Bane said that the survey data allows management to make informed decisions based on real data and not on “isolated opinions, rumors or ‘squeaky wheels.'”Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com
