Every 24 months, the Office of the State HR Director (OSHRD) administers the 16 question State Employee Survey.
All agencies who participate use the
16 standard questions. Agencies may also add questions or administer their own survey.
Results for the 16 standard questions are provided by OSHRD for each agency. Statewide analysis is also performed by OSHRD.
How do agencies participate in the Employee Survey?
Prior to the opening of a new Survey, OSHRD contacts the Cabinet, Small Agency Cabinet, Elected Officials, and previous survey contacts announcing the upcoming Survey. They are asked to provide a survey contact name if they wish to participate in the Survey.
OSHRD updates the Survey Contact list with the names provided. This updated list is then used for all further communication on the new Survey.
How can agencies add questions or administer their own Survey?
Agencies who wish to administer their own survey (electronic or paper) contact the
survey administrator at OSHRD to coordinate plans.
Agencies who wish to add additional questions beyond the 16 standard questions also contact the
survey administrator at OSHRD to coordinate plans. For example, some agencies choose to gather information by sub-agency for drill-down, or may include other questions relating to their business.
Results for these additional questions are provided by OSHRD to the Agency as a raw data file. These additional questions are not included in the data summary provided by OSHRD.
How were the questions chosen?
To develop the enterprise-wide survey in 2005, Department of Personnel met with a group of agency representatives and with the Director of the Division of Government Studies & Services at Washington State University. Twelve core questions were identified. Additional questions were added in 2007 and 2011.
What technology is used to do the Survey?
Zoomerang software (an on-line survey tool) is used to perform the survey. Microsoft Excel is used to provide the data to the agencies.