Salary Satisfaction

Ongoing debates over federal pay have characterized federal employees as overpaid, underpaid, earning more than their private sector counterparts, or earning far less. Despite conflicting viewpoints, the majority of feds recently surveyed said they were satisfied with their salaries.

In the annual Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey, formerly known as the Federal Human Capital Survey, 66 percent of the 250,000 respondents reported being satisfied with their pay. Only 19 percent surveyed were dissatisfied.

Respondents to the survey conducted by the Office of Personnel Management were less satisfied, however, with some of their benefits, like child care and telework. Only 23 percent were content with the child care programs available in their agency and even fewer -- 20 percent -- said they were satisfied with elder care programs.

This was the first year that OPM included a work-life section, and the responses seemed to validate recent efforts by both the agency and lawmakers to expand options for better work-life balance, particularly telework.

Only 9.5 percent of the survey's respondents said they telework regularly, or at least one whole workday per week. Almost one-quarter said they did not telework because they were not allowed to, even though they had the type of job where it is possible to work remotely. Another 7 percent said they did not telework because of technical issues such as Internet connectivity or inadequate equipment.

Only 35 percent of feds surveyed said they were satisfied or very satisfied with their agency's telework program. Another 42 percent were neutral -- neither satisfied nor dissatisfied.

Employees were happier with their agencies' options for alternative work schedules. Almost 60 percent were satisfied or very satisfied; 25 percent were neutral.

Feedback on health and wellness programs and employee assistance programs was divided. About half the respondents said they were satisfied with these programs.

As for training, slightly more than half of the survey's participants -- 54 percent -- said their training needs were assessed while 56 percent were satisfied with the training they received for their current job. More than 20 percent are dissatisfied with their job training.

Lack of training could contribute to respondents' dissatisfaction with their ability to advance within their agencies. Only 42 percent said they were pleased with their opportunities for promotion. One-third of respondents were unhappy with those opportunities, while 27 percent were neutral.