Focus Groups

In a memo earlier this week, Office of Personnel Management Director John Berry urged department and agency heads to conduct focus groups with employees, and consult with labor organizations, to better understand where they are failing in employee satisfaction.

The memo was following up on an earlier direction from OPM for agencies to submit an action plan to OPM before Sept. 14 to improve employee satisfaction and wellness.

Berry said agencies should review the results from the 2008 Federal Human Capital Survey, identify the top ten areas scored lowest compared with other federal agencies, and take follow-up actions to see how those areas can be improved. Berry also asks agencies to focus on any areas which have fallen since 2006.