2021 DSHS Employee Engagement Survey

The 2021 survey shows overall declines in employee engagement since the last major survey, much of which may be attributable to the extensive impact of COVID-19. Compared to 2019, there were statistically significant declines in positive responses to eight of the 17 comparable items in both surveys, and five statistically significant increases. The response rate in 2021 was 67% (10,170 responses). Areas of improvement include satisfaction with flexibility and mobility (among those with opportunities to telework), fair treatment in work groups, recognition for a job well done, and teamwork. Challenges include indications of burnout (issues with workload, staffing, feeling valued, and morale), substantial drops in job satisfaction and net promotion, dissatisfaction with change management, and unmet individual needs for autonomy and growth. Opportunities and challenges vary across administrations and work groups.

The Employee Engagement Survey is an important component of Governor Inslee’s Results Washington initiative for performance management and continuous improvement. Results are used by DSHS to inform strategic planning and initiatives to improve employee engagement at every level of the organization.