Attached are the U.S. Merit Systems Protections Board’s (MSPB’s) Annual Employee Survey (AES) 

results from the 2021 Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey (FEVS), administered by the Office of 

Personnel Management (OPM).

• Survey administration: The web-based 2021 FEVS was administered November 8–December

10, 2021. An invitation to participate in the survey was sent via email to all of MSPB’s

permanent career civil service employees on board as of April 2021. (Political and temporary

appointees were not included in the sample.)

• Response rate: The overall adjusted response rate in 2021 was 61% (113 surveys returned out

of 185 invitations issued). Due to MSPB’s small size, MSPB does not link results to demographic

characteristics.

• Summary of results: The last few years have been unprecedented in the history of MSPB.

Although MSPB’s quorum was restored on March 4, 2022, at the time of the 2021 FEVS, MSPB

had operated without a quorum for nearly five years and without any presidentially appointed,

Senate-confirmed Board members for nearly three years. Furthermore, as with other Federal

agencies, we had been contending with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. In October

2021, just prior to the administration of the 2021 FEVS, MSPB employees began the

incremental process of returning to the workplace. Despite these challenges, results of the FEVS

were predominantly positive.

According to OPM standards, 39 of the 44 core items were strengths (percent positive above 

65%), and MSPB had no challenges (percent negative above 35%). All four of the items with 

above 95% positive were about employees in their work units: meeting customer needs (99%);

contributing positively to agency performance (97%); producing high quality work (97%); and 

achieving the work unit goals (96%). The items with the lowest percent positive involved:

dealing with poor performers (52%); and belief the FEVs data will be used to improve agency 

performance (51%). These two items also had the highest percent negative responses (23% and 

22%, respectively). 

Comparing percent positive responses for the 37 core items in 2021 that can be compared to 

items from the 2020 FEVS, three items increased, and two items decreased by more than 5%. 

The largest increases included: recognizing performance in a meaningful way (+11%); disclosing 

a suspected violation of law, rule, or regulations without fear of reprisal (+9%); and the overall 

job being done by the supervisor (+6%). The largest decreases involved feeling encouraged to 

come up with new and better ways of doing things, and satisfaction with pay, both decreasing 

by 9%.

With the arrival of MSPB’s new Board members, the restoration of a quorum, and the 

anticipated arrival of a new Chair, MSPB will face new opportunities and challenges. MSPB 

leaders will continue to work to reinforce our strengths and address our challenges.

U.S. Merit Systerms Protection Board 2021 Annual Employee Survey (AES) Results Page 1 of 5
Item Item Text

Response

Type

Percent

Positive

Strongly

Agree/ 

Very

Good/ 

Very

Satisfied

%

Agree/

Good/

Satisfied

%

Neither

Agree nor

Disagree/

Fair/ Neither

Satisfied nor

Dissatisfied

%

Disagree/

Poor/

Dissatisfied

%

Strongly

Disagree/

Very Poor/

Very

Dissatisfied

%

Percent

Negative

Strongly

Agree/

Very

Good/

Very

Satisfied

N

Agree/

Good/

Satisfied

N

Neither

Agree nor

Disagree/

Fair/

Neither

Satisfied

nor

Dissatisfied

N

Disagree/

Poor/

Dissatisfied

N

Strongly

Disagree/

Very Poor/

Very

Dissatisfied

N

Item

Response

Total**

N

Do Not

Know/

No Basis

to Judge

N

1 *I am given a real opportunity to improve my 

skills in my organization.

Agree-disagree

77.9% 28.5% 49.4% 12.5% 6.9% 2.7% 9.6% 32 56 14 8 3 113 N/A

2 I feel encouraged to come up with new and 

better ways of doing things.

Agree-disagree

66.8% 27.3% 39.5% 14.9% 14.8% 3.5% 18.3% 31 45 16 17 4 113 N/A

3 My work gives me a feeling of personal 

accomplishment.

Agree-disagree

79.7% 38.7% 41.0% 11.9% 5.6% 2.8% 8.3% 44 46 13 7 3 113 N/A

4 I know what is expected of me on the job. Agree-disagree

90.4% 43.3% 47.1% 6.0% 0.9% 2.8% 3.6% 49 53 7 1 3 113 N/A

5 *My workload is reasonable. Agree-disagree

74.8% 26.6% 48.2% 13.2% 6.9% 5.1% 12.1% 29 55 14 8 6 112 0

6 *My talents are used well in the workplace. Agree-disagree

78.5% 26.4% 52.1% 10.8% 7.8% 2.9% 10.7% 29 57 12 9 3 110 0

7 *I know how my work relates to the agency's 

goals.

Agree-disagree

93.3% 56.0% 37.3% 4.1% 1.8% 0.9% 2.6% 62 42 5 2 1 112 0

8 *I can disclose a suspected violation of any law, 

rule or regulation without fear of reprisal.

Agree-disagree

77.7% 48.1% 29.7% 9.1% 6.4% 6.7% 13.1% 50 31 10 7 7 105 7

9 *The people I work with cooperate to get the job

done.

Agree-disagree

90.5% 51.1% 39.4% 6.5% 3.0% 0.0% 3.0% 58 44 7 4 0 113 N/A

10 In my work unit, steps are taken to deal with a 

poor performer who cannot or will not improve.

Agree-disagree

51.5% 17.0% 34.6% 25.7% 18.1% 4.7% 22.8% 15 28 21 16 4 84 29

12 *In my work unit, differences in performance are

recognized in a meaningful way.

Agree-disagree

68.5% 21.1% 47.4% 16.8% 9.3% 5.4% 14.6% 20 44 15 9 5 93 20

13 *My work unit has the job-relevant knowledge 

and skills necessary to accomplish organizational

goals.

Agree-disagree

91.2% 51.4% 39.8% 7.2% 0.9% 0.8% 1.6% 57 45 8 1 1 112 1

14 Employees in my work unit meet the needs of 

our customers.

Always-never

99.0% 59.0% 40.1% 1.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 60 41 1 0 0 102 9

15 Employees in my work unit contribute positively 

to my agency's performance.

Always-never

97.3% 65.2% 32.1% 2.7% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 70 35 3 0 0 108 4

16 Employees in my work unit produce high-quality 

work.

Always-never

96.5% 55.3% 41.1% 3.5% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 59 44 4 0 0 107 5

17 Employees in my work unit adapt to changing 

priorities.

Always-never

92.2% 55.0% 37.2% 5.1% 2.7% 0.0% 2.7% 58 39 6 3 0 106 5

18 Employees in my work unit successfully 

collaborate.

Always-never

86.6% 50.7% 35.9% 10.9% 2.4% 0.0% 2.4% 55 40 12 3 0 110 3

U.S. Merit Systerms Protection Board 2021 Annual Employee Survey (AES) Results Page 2 of 5
19 Employees in my work unit achieve our goals. Always-never

95.5% 56.5% 39.1% 4.5% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 62 42

500 1094

20 Employees are recognized for providing high 

quality products and services.

Agree-disagree

73.3% 28.2% 45.1% 17.0% 6.1% 3.6% 9.7% 32 50 19

74 1121

21 Employees are protected from health and safety 

hazards on the job.

Agree-disagree

79.1% 42.6% 36.4% 8.7% 6.3% 6.0% 12.3% 48 39

977 1103

22 My agency is successful at accomplishing its 

mission.

Agree-disagree

75.2% 34.6% 40.7% 14.1% 7.1% 3.5% 10.6% 38 44 14

84 1084

23 *I recommend my organization as a good place 

to work.

Agree-disagree

75.7% 40.6% 35.1% 15.1% 6.8% 2.4% 9.2% 46 39 17

83 113 N/A

24 *I believe the results of this survey will be used to 

make my agency a better place to work.

Agree-disagree

50.8% 18.2% 32.5% 27.5% 9.1% 12.6% 21.7% 20 32 29

9 14 1049

25 My supervisor supports my need to balance work 

and other life issues.

Agree-disagree

93.8% 68.5% 25.3% 5.4% 0.0% 0.9% 0.9% 77 29

601 1130

26 My supervisor is committed to a workforce 

representative of all segments of society.

Agree-disagree

83.9% 56.8% 27.2% 12.4% 3.7% 0.0% 3.7% 60 29 13

40 1067

27 Supervisors in my work unit support employee 

development.

Agree-disagree

82.0% 51.5% 30.5% 11.9% 5.1% 1.0% 6.1% 57 34 13

61 1111

28 My supervisor listens to what I have to say. Agree-disagree

89.3% 64.1% 25.2% 5.3% 5.4% 0.0% 5.4% 71 29

660 112 N/A

29 My supervisor treats me with respect. Agree-disagree

88.3% 71.5% 16.8% 8.8% 2.9% 0.0% 2.9% 80 20 10

30 113 N/A

30 I have trust and confidence in my supervisor. Agree-disagree

82.2% 65.3% 16.9% 11.8% 5.3% 0.8% 6.1% 73 20 13

61 113 N/A

31 Overall, how good a job do you feel is being done 

by your immediate supervisor?

Good-poor

88.7% 72.8% 15.9% 8.8% 1.7% 0.9% 2.6% 82 18 10

21 113 N/A

32 In my organization, senior leaders generate high 

levels of motivation and commitment in the 

workforce.

Agree-disagree

64.5% 19.7% 44.8% 15.7% 12.8% 7.0% 19.8% 23 49 17 15

8 1121

33 My organization's senior leaders maintain high 

standards of honesty and integrity.

Agree-disagree

76.9% 30.2% 46.6% 11.5% 2.7% 9.0% 11.6% 31 47 12

39 102 10

34 *Managers communicate the goals of the 

organization.

Agree-disagree

76.7% 26.4% 50.3% 9.5% 6.9% 6.8% 13.7% 31 55 11

88 1130

35 Managers promote communication among 

different work units (for example, about projects, 

goals, needed resources).

Agree-disagree

57.2% 22.1% 35.1% 23.1% 10.6% 9.1% 19.7% 24 37 25 12 10 108

5

36 Overall, how good a job do you feel is being done 

by the manager directly above your immediate 

supervisor?

Good-poor

68.5% 37.3% 31.2% 17.2% 4.2% 10.1% 14.3% 39 33 19

5 11 1076

37 I have a high level of respect for my 

organization's senior leaders.

Agree-disagree

71.1% 35.8% 35.4% 14.0% 5.1% 9.8% 14.9% 39 39 16

6 11 1112

38 Senior leaders demonstrate support for WorkLife programs.Agree-disagree

76.6% 39.2% 37.4% 15.0% 1.1% 7.3% 8.4% 40 38 15

18 102 10

U.S. Merit Systerms Protection Board 2021 Annual Employee Survey (AES) Results Page 3 of 5
39 *How satisfied are you with your involvement in

decisions that affect your work?

Satisfieddissatisfied

62.6% 21.6% 41.0% 22.9% 10.9% 3.5% 14.4% 25 45 26 13 4 113 N/A

40 *How satisfied are you with the information you

receive from management on what's going on in

your organization?

Satisfieddissatisfied

73.3% 27.9% 45.4% 14.6% 8.6% 3.5% 12.1% 32 49 16 10 4 111 N/A

41 *How satisfied are you with the recognition you

receive for doing a good job?

Satisfieddissatisfied

71.7% 35.6% 36.1% 17.7% 6.2% 4.4% 10.6% 40 40 20 7 5 112 N/A

42 *Considering everything, how satisfied are you

with your job?

Satisfieddissatisfied

73.6% 37.8% 35.8% 17.8% 6.9% 1.7% 8.6% 42 39 20 8 2 111 N/A

43 Considering everything, how satisfied are you 

with your pay?

Satisfieddissatisfied

66.3% 25.0% 41.3% 17.0% 11.5% 5.2% 16.8% 28 46 19 13 6 112 N/A

44 *Considering everything, how satisfied are you

with your organization?

Satisfieddissatisfied

74.4% 30.3% 44.2% 15.4% 6.6% 3.6% 10.2% 34 47 17 8 4 110 N/A

* AES prescribed items as of 2017 (5 CFR Part 250, Subpart C)

** Unweighted count of responses excluding "Do Not Know" or "No Basis to Judge"

Percentages are weighted to represent the Agency's population.

Source: Merit Systems Protection Board AES Report, 2021 OPM Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey

End of worksheet

U.S. Merit Systerms Protection Board 2021 Annual Employee Survey (AES) Results Page 4 of 5
Response Option

2021

N

2021

%

2020

N

2020

%

2019

N

2019

%

Remain in the work unit and improve their performance over time 12 16.9% 22 24.5% 18 18.3%

Remain in the work unit and continue to underperform 22 29.3% 31 33.4% 38 39.2%

Leave the work unit - removed or transferred 6 7.9% 5 5.0% 8 8.1%

Leave the work unit - quit 13 17.2% 9 9.5% 8 8.0%

There are no poor performers in my work unit 21 28.6% 25 27.7% 25 26.4%

Do Not Know 39 —

b

33 —

b

29 —

b

Total 113 100.0% 125 100.0% 126 100.0%

End of worksheet

Source: Merit Systems Protection Board AES Report, 2021 OPM Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey

11. In my work unit poor performers usually:

Percentages are weighted to represent the Agency's population.

The rows above do not include results for any year when there were fewer than 4 completed surveys.

"—a" indicates that there are no trending results available for the year.

"—b" indicates that the "Do Not Know" responses are not included in percentage calculations.

U.S. Merit Systerms Protection Board 2021 Annual Employee Survey (AES) Results Page 5 of 5