[ by Melanie Gretchen ]

The SEC survey produced a mix bag of results.  Asked about expectations, work environment, and opportunity, employees results were rated in percentages "Positive," "Neutral," and "Negative," based on the total number of responses (N) that are in these 3 categories.  Considering 686,757 employees reported, any results would be significant.

The 2012 Federal Employee Viewpoint Report. Working at SEC headquarters didn't guarantee more or less satisfaction than working at a regional office – sometimes employee satisfaction ranked lower than overall SEC satisfaction.  More often than not, regional offices reported more satisfaction than headquarters.

In addition, some offices fared better than others.  Regional offices that reported consistently positive work situations included: (i) Denver, (ii) Fort Worth, (iii) San Francisco, (iv) Miami, and (v) Salt Lake City.

Areas in which positive results were low across the board include answers to the following questions:

• I have sufficient resources to get my job done.
• Promotions in my work unit are based on merit.
• In my work unit, steps are taken to deal with a poor performer who cannot or will not improve.
• In my work unit, differences in performance are recognized in a meaningful way.
• Pay raises depend on how well employees perform their jobs.

Areas in which positive results were high across the board include answers to the following questions:

• I like the kind of work I do.
• When needed I am willing to put in the extra effort to get a job done.
• I am constantly looking for ways to do my job better.
• Physical conditions allow employees to perform their jobs well.
• In the last six months, my supervisor/team leader has talked with me about my performance.

For the complete survey, go to the [2012 Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey Results].