CDC Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response Employee Satisfaction Survey: Use of an employee survey to increase job satisfaction among public health preparedness and response workers

The US National Health Security Strategy guides nationwide efforts to protect the health and well-being of people in the case of an emergency. It identifies as a national objective retaining a skilled public health workforce that can respond to major events, stating, “a motivated and satisfied workforce is essential for developing an effective and productive public health workforce.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response (OPHPR) developed a survey to assess levels of satisfaction among its employees and identify areas for improvement. The survey gathered feedback from OPHPR employees on their work experience, including questions on leadership and communication in OPHPR, perceptions of diversity, opportunities for professional growth, and employee engagement. OPHPR administered the survey annually during 2005-2010 and used the results to improve the OPHPR work environment. This presentation will describe: 1) the development of the survey, 2) key findings, 3) how the findings were used, and 4) how similar tools can be used by other public health organizations to help maintain a satisfied workforce. Each year, the survey has been used to inform approaches to retain OPHPR staff and develop initiatives for improving employee work experiences and satisfaction. Preliminary analyses indicate that overall satisfaction at OPHPR is strongly correlated with confidence in leadership. The survey tool, which has been developed and tested over time and now consists of 77 items, is available for adaptation for use in other public health organizations.