The Best Places to Work report highlighted flexibility as a key issue for federal employees fewer workers were able to telework daily in November 2021 compared to September and October of 2020. Public sector engagement also lags behind that of the private sector, according to the Best Places to Work report, which compared metrics with research on private sector workers by consulting firm Mercer. Sources in a recent virtual event told HR Dive that hiring woes have affected state and local governments, particularly for skilled positions in areas such as nursing and engineering. Bureau of Labor Statistics found that while private sector employment in June sat at 140,000 jobs higher than in February 2020, government employment was 664,000 jobs lower by comparison. The report comes as public sector entities continue to encounter hiring difficulties nationwide – and could signal recruitment opportunities to private employers. Scores were also lower for those who identified as LGBT workers with disabilities Native Americans and Alaskans and workers who identified with two or more races. This observation was true of the 2020 report’s findings as well, but the gap between age groups fell in 2021. Employees in the report between the ages of 30 and 39 registered the lowest engagement and satisfaction scores, while those ages 60 and over registered the highest satisfaction of any age range.Others were dissatisfied with pay increases federal employees received a raise of just 1% in 2021 while consumer prices rose 7% between December 2020 and December 2021. Compared to the prior year, respondents gave low scores to leadership in areas such as communication about workplace returns. 2021 “presents a workforce at a critical and stressful turning point,” per the report, with workers concerned about returning to offices.Federal government employee engagement and satisfaction declined year-over-year in 2021, according to the Best Places to Work rankings produced by the Partnership for Public Service and Boston Consulting Group, reflecting challenges such as COVID-19 safety concerns and staffing shortages.

Two point hospital staff morale