Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey | NIH Results
The Office of Personnel Management administers the annual Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey (FEVS) to measure federal government employees’ perceptions about their work experiences, organizations, and leaders.
In the 2023 FEVS, 68% of National Institutes of Health (NIH) staff responded – a 1.9% increase from 2022. Additionally, NIH ranked as one of the highest scoring Large Operating Divisions across the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in five categories including Employee Engagement at 82% positive; Global Satisfaction at 77% positive; Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) at 81% positive; Performance Confidence at 93% positive; and the new Employee Experience at 84% positive.
The new category, Employee Experience (EXI), measures the extent to which employees are engaged by their work and their organization as well as public service motivation. For additional category descriptions and NIH’s full FEVS results, please visit: 2023 FEVS Survey Results.
Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey | OHR Results
In addition to managing the Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey (FEVS) initiative across the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Office of Human Resources (OHR) also analyzed our internal FEVS results and improved the experience of our staff through targeted action planning.
OHR achieved our highest "Belief in Action" score yet with an 84% positive response, a 4% increase from 2022.
OHR focused on a variety of strategies to enhance staff experience including, but not limited to:
- Workload Management - gathered feedback through staff interviews and brainstorming sessions as well as developed new apps and tools;
- Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) - added a DEIA-focused OHR Director’s Seminar Series as well as many different information sessions and trainings on DEIA-related topics;
- Staff Involvement in Decision-Making – solicited staff input/feedback on OHR-level projects, policies, and guidance;
- Employee Development – launched the OHR People Skills Inventory digital dashboard where staff can voluntarily promote their diverse skillsets to bridge skill gaps, connect with each other, and do what they enjoy; and,
- Data Culture - supported innovation through analytics technologies to enable OHR’s growing data culture.
OIMP EDB
Recruiting America’s Remote Talent
Recruiting positions with remote duty locations gives NIH greater access to valuable talent across America. In 2023, OHR filled 279 non-local remote vacancies with only 144 job announcements. Filling remote positions is growing a geographically diverse workforce – one more representative of those we serve.
CSD
NIH Recruitment Enhancement
The Client Services Division (CSD) embarked on several enhancement efforts in 2023 to recruit and hire the talent required for the variety of occupations available at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
- Data Science Recruitment: CSD employees and subject matter experts across the NIH Data Science community partnered to standardize position descriptions, job analysis and assessment data to ensure successful hiring while also conducting cross-institute job analysis to develop recruitment packages for positions in the Data Science occupational series.
- Training Internally & Externally: CSD provided training on job analysis and developing position descriptions to help Institutes and Centers better understand what is needed to submit a classification and recruitment package. CSD also offered resume writing webinars to help NIH job seekers prepare for the federal application process.
- Agency Talent Portal: OHR implemented the Agency Talent Portal to allow NIH hiring managers to source talent from USAJOBS applicants by inviting candidates who had shared their resume to apply under non-competitive hiring procedures.
CSD
NIH Training Center Hybrid Approach
The National Institutes of Health Training Center (NIHTC) continued to serve the geographically diverse NIH workforce, cultivating a hybrid learning environment with both on-site, virtual, and hybrid training opportunities, which improved accessibility and accommodated more interested personnel. Leadership development opportunities such as the Senior Leadership Program (SLP) and the Mid-Level Leadership Program (MLP) were offered in various formats both on-site and virtually. Additionally, the NIHTC held a successful hybrid graduation for the Management Intern/Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) Program to ensure the broadest range of access and support to NIH’s geographically dispersed workforce.
WSDD
NIH Director Transition
In November of 2023, Monica Bertagnolli, M.D. became the 17th director of the National Institutes of Health. The Office of Human Resources (OHR) supported this transition by partnering with leadership and preparing vital briefing materials as well as briefing Dr. Bertagnolli on vital human resources topics facing NIH. OHR also managed critical Delegations of Authority to ensure a smooth transfer of power and seamless execution of administrative services to customers across NIH.
OCS DSSEM CPD
2023 NIH Workplace Civility & Equity Survey
The triennial National Institutes of Health (NIH) Workplace Civility & Equity Survey, built in partnership with the Office of Human Resources, the NIH Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, and NIH’s UNITE initiative to assess workplace climate and provide useful results, allows staff to confidentially share their experiences with harassment and discrimination in the workplace. The 2023 overall NIH response rate was 48.2% with 18,729 respondents, including federal employees, trainees, contractors, volunteers, and other staff. Each Institute or Center was provided its results to empower meaningful action at the local level, whereas NIH-level results informed strategies more globally to foster an inclusive, diverse, and harassment-free workplace.
WSDD
Expanded Candidate Outreach
To broaden the diversity of potential National Institutes of Health (NIH) applicants, the Client Services Division (CSD), in partnership with the Office of Communications & Strategy (OCS), expanded its NIH recruitment and outreach efforts in several ways in 2023, including 800 social media posts across LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook, resulted in 932,000 new followers and 17.8 million impressions. The Office of Human Resources (OHR) attended 32 outreach events to target historically marginalized groups, such as individuals with disabilities, those from the LGBTQ+ and LatinX communities, as well as students and faculty at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Additionally, CSD added volunteer opportunities to its outreach events, which allowed 35 NIH employees across the Institutes and Centers an opportunity to get involved with recruiting and interact with potential job applicants to learn first-hand about working at the NIH.
OCS CSD
Automating Applicant Assessments
In response to Executive Order 13932 on Modernizing and Reforming the Assessment and Hiring of Federal Job Candidates, OHR implemented an applicant assessment program that evaluates NIH job candidates with USA Hire’s online, automated assessments. This enhancement resulted in selection rates consistently rising in 2023 for recruitments using USA Hire, and as improved the quality of the candidate pool, promotes objectivity and fairness in the selection process and reduces HR workload. The assessments are delivered in an unproctored format, removing barriers associated with travel to physical test locations, and innovations on mobile devices are reducing accessibility concerns that disproportionately affect younger, lower-income, and disadvantaged groups.
CSD
Workplace Flexibilities System Launch for NIH
In partnership with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) leadership across the Institutes and Centers, the Workforce Relations Division (WRD) and HR Systems, Analytics and Information Division (HR SAID) played a key role in launching the Enterprise Content Management (ECM) Workplace Flexibilities (WPF) System. The system was designed to automate the process of tracking and routing NIH Workplace Flexibility Agreements (WFAs) while increasing employee awareness and improving accessibility. The Office of Human Resources' efforts ensured a more streamlined way to report WPF data and manage renewals while ensuring consistent WPF policy application NIH-wide.
WRD HR SAID
NIH Emerging Talent Program
National Institutes of Health Training Center (NIHTC) partnered with stakeholders across the Office of Human Resources and the NIH to develop the Emerging Talent Program (ETP), new career development program designed specifically to support NIH staff at the GS 5-11 levels and equivalents. Participants develop and improve essential skills such as communication, emotional intelligence, conflict resolution, and networking. Participants will also obtain tools for navigating a federal career and fostering inclusivity, as well as receive individualized one-on-one career development support using an Individual Development Plan. The Emerging Talent Program is set to offer two 6-month pilot cohorts in 2024.
For more information about the Emerging Talent Program, please visit: Emerging Talent Program.
WSDD CSD WRD
Veteran Military Spouse Outreach
The Veteran and military spouse community is very important at the NIH and each year special emphasis is placed on outreach to this valued community. In 2023, the Corporate Recruitment Unit engaged with over 200 attendees at the 2023 Military Spouse Career Fair sponsored by USDA and attended by over 1,000 participants. OHR shared resources and information on career path opportunities here at the NIH. Additionally, OHR produces an annual Veterans Day Celebration video honoring all those across NIH who serve or have a family member in the armed forces.
CSD
NIH Training Center Training Events App
The National Institute of Health Training Center (NIHTC) completed Phase I development of its Microsoft365 Training Events App, designed to offer a one-stop user experience for class tracking, calendars, vendor info, and data administration. Developed and user-tested in 2023, the app tracks calendar items, includes a calendar-integrated approvals workflow, and reduces administrative data entry and review. The NIHTC Training Events App launched in early 2024.
WSDD