From the Federal Times:
Reorganizations and cutbacks in support positions since 2004 have worsened already-poor morale at the Forest Service, a union leader told lawmakers Thursday.
Ron Thatcher, president of the National Federation of Federal Employees’ Forest Service Council, said support operations that once were maintained by field units now operate through a “stovepipe” organization that reports directly to Washington.
“Field employees no longer have local staff to consult, but call an 800 number for support,” Thatcher told the House Natural Resources subcommittee on national parks, forests and public lands.
Information technology, human resources and budgetary support functions were cut in the centralization process, Thatcher said, and field employees often find themselves doing those jobs.
Also, limited budgets, unfilled vacancies and the diversion of funds from some projects to pay for wildfire suppression all help damage morale, Thatcher said.
“Too many employees have lost the hope and belief that things can get better,” Thatcher said. “Some even hang it up by retiring earlier than they had planned, ending their careers because they are no longer able to tolerate the frustration of trying to do their jobs with their hands tied behind their backs.”
Survey results appear to confirm that morale is plummeting at the Forest Service, said Kevin Simpson, general counsel for the nonprofit Partnership for Public Service. The Partnership rated the Forest Service 143rd out of 222 agency subcomponents in its 2007 “Best Places to Work in the Federal Government” report, and a preliminary review of the results of the Office of Personnel Management’s 2008 Federal Human Capital Survey indicates the 2009 ranking will likely fall. Responses to key questions show growing dissatisfaction:
• 56 percent of Forest Service employees said they would recommend their organization as a good place to work, down from 61 percent two years earlier.
• 62 percent of employees were satisfied with their job, down from 70 percent.
• 44 percent of employees are satisfied with their organization, down from 51 percent.Also, a low 37 percent believe they receive enough information from their managers regarding what’s going on in the agency. Simpson said that compares with a private-sector average of 66 percent.
