Employee Surveys
Overview
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) oversees, conducts, and supports various Governmentwide and agency surveys. Results of these surveys inform Governmentwide human resources policy and agency-specific initiatives. This page is provided as a resource to let you know about some of our activities and the services we offer in this area.
Federal employees should be aware we periodically administer surveys on behalf of OPM and other Federal agencies. These surveys are generally limited to specific audience groups or sample areas. Accordingly, we typically do not provide links to all of these specific surveys. You may contact your agency Human Resources office for additional information about the nature and legitimacy of a survey you may have received from OPM.
Mandatory Annual Employee Survey
Federal Agencies are required by law to conduct The Annual Employee Survey. Following are links to additional information and guidance on mandatory survey requirements.
- Annual Employee Survey Requirement (subpart C, Employee Surveys, 5 CFR Part 250) Federal Register Notice
- Annual Employee Survey Guidance
Reimbursable Survey Services
We provide scientifically validated, standardized surveys, as well as customized surveys to assess a wide range of human capital management areas, including demonstration projects. Visit our Survey Services page for more information.
Current Surveys
Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey (FEVS)
The Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey (FEVS) is a tool that measures employees' perceptions of whether, and to what extent, conditions characterizing successful organizations are present in their agencies. Survey results provide valuable insight into the challenges agency leaders face in ensuring the Federal Government has an effective civilian workforce and how well they are responding.
Survey Administration Dates: May 13, 2019 - July 5, 2019.
Excepted Service Survey
In FY17, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is conducting a Government-wide study on excepted service hiring. Select agencies in the Executive Branch, whose excepted service hiring is covered under title 5, U.S.C, are participating in this study. The three primary goals of the study are to assess the extent to which the various excepted service authorities are being used; assess the efficiency and effectiveness of excepted service hiring policies and practices; and identify areas of non-compliance with related laws and regulations. In support of this study, beginning the week of February 6, 2017, OPM is conducting a survey of supervisors within the selected agencies. The survey is designed to collect information about supervisors’ experiences and opinions related to hiring individuals into excepted service positions, as well as their knowledge of excepted service hiring policies and procedures, and the training they received at their current agency.
Survey Administration Dates: February 6, 2017 – March 3, 2017.
Senior Executive Service (SES) Onboarding Survey
The Senior Executive Service (SES) Onboarding Survey is a new governmentwide survey that will enable OPM and Federal agencies to obtain helpful data informing the continual improvement of SES hiring and development, and to support the implementation of SES onboarding programs required by the President's Management Agenda "People and Culture" SES initiative as well as the December 15, 2015 Executive Order on "Strengthening the Senior Executive Service."
Survey Administration Dates: December 6, 2016 – December 30, 2016
Federal Work-Life Survey
The Federal Work-Life Survey assesses employees’ current and future needs, work-life program use, accessibility, and overall effectiveness. Results from this survey provide data to support evidence-based decision-making through evaluation of the relationship between work-life programs and their intended outcomes (e.g., increased employee engagement, performance, improved health, reduced absenteeism, improved retention).
Survey Administration Dates: January 2017
Senior Executive Service (SES) Exit Survey
The Senior Executive Service (SES) Exit Survey enables Federal agencies to capture valuable information regarding the circumstances under which their senior executives leave the Federal Government, and to offer an opportunity for executives to provide candid feedback about their work experiences and perspectives of their agencies. This web-based survey is hosted by OPM, and each agency is provided a common link to distribute to their departing SES members. The survey will be available on an ongoing basis for an indefinite period of time.
Survey administration dates: Ongoing (April 2013 – Present)
Other Ways to Connect
Governmentwide Results
Federal Employee Benefits Survey
The Employee Benefits Survey measures employee attitudes about their Federal benefits with regard to "importance, adequacy, value and competitiveness" on recruitment and retention.
Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey
Commencing in 2002, OPM began Governmentwide administration of the Federal Human Capital Survey (FHCS). In 2010 the name was changed to the Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey (FEVS). It is a tool to measure employees' perceptions of whether, and to what extent, conditions characterizing successful organizations are present in their agencies. You may review results at the FEVS Website.
Senior Executive Service Survey
The Senior Executive Service web site contains extensive information about the SES including its features and structure.