The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) will administer the first Governmentwide Federal Work-Life Survey in early 2017, in support of efforts to develop and sustain an engaged, innovative, and productive Federal workforce.  Our commitment to workplace flexibilities and employee wellness makes the Federal Government an ideal place for employees to build their careers and cultivate fulfilling lives outside the workplace. 

Through the Federal Work-Life Survey, we have an unprecedented opportunity to evaluate the relationship between work-life programs and organizational benefits, and answer questions about how Federal programs compare to similar private sector programs.  The data collected will also help individual agencies understand their employees’ work-life needs and priorities, allowing senior leaders and managers to make evidence-based decisions about support for and investments in these programs.  Furthermore, the Governmentwide results will be analyzed to identify and share high-performing programs, common barriers, and recommendations to create work environment that supports the success of organizations and its employees.

Below are ways to learn more about the Federal Work-Life Survey.

Federal Work-Life Survey Overview Webcast

On Thursday, January 12, 2017, OPM hosted the Federal Work-Life Survey Webcast.  All Federal employees, managers, and leaders are encouraged to view the recorded webcast to learn more about the survey content, administration, and value to our Federal community.

Memorandum to Agency Chief Human Capital Officers

On October 25, 2016, OPM Acting Director, Beth F. Cobert, released the Governmentwide Assessment of Federal Work-Life Programs Memorandum. The memorandum announces the upcoming Federal Work-Life Survey, solicits agency POCs to assist with logistics and communication of the survey, and offers details on how the survey results will be used.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the Federal Work-Life Survey? View more
  The Federal Work-Life Survey is the first Governmentwide, systematic assessment of our work-life programs.
• What is the purpose of the Federal Work-Life Survey? View more
  The purpose is to evaluate program effectiveness, identify best practices, and promote evidence-based decision-making by providing the tools needed to make the business case for programs.
• When will the survey be administered? View more
  The survey will begin on January 25, 2017 and remain open for a six week period.
• Who participates in the survey? View more
  Survey participants consist of 196,343 permanent Federal employees. Full-time, part-time, seasonal, or non-seasonal employees are included. Participants were randomly selected from all agencies within the Executive Branch.
• Is the survey confidential? View more
  Yes. Survey participant and respondent information is confidential. Results will be reported at the aggregate level only.
• Is this an annual survey? View more
  No. There is currently no plan to re-administer the survey.
• How long does the survey take? View more
  On average, the survey will take approximately 15-20 minutes to complete.
• What types of work-life programs does the survey ask about? View more
  Telework, Alternative Work Arrangements (i.e., Alternative work schedules), Family & Dependent Care, Health & Wellness, and Employee Assistance Programs
• Is participation in the survey mandatory? View more
  No. Participation in the survey is not mandatory.
• How will this survey benefit our agency? View more
  The survey is an unprecedented opportunity to:

  • Promote evidence-based decision-making by providing the tools needed to make the business case for programs
  • Evaluate the relationships between Federal work-life programs and intended beneficial outcomes
  • Answer pressing questions of interest about how programs in the Federal Government compare to other programs in the United States
  • Support individual agencies in understanding the needs and desires of their employees in order to build more effective programs
• How does the Federal Work-Life Survey differ from the Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey (FEVS)? View more

  The FEVS only includes questions about the use of work-life programs and program satisfaction, and relate participation in and satisfaction with work-life programs to outcomes of business interest, such as job satisfaction and turnover intention.

  The Federal Work-Life Survey will go much further in helping us understand the needs and desires of employees by delving into more specifics of program use. For example, questions inquiry about:

  • Current and future work-life needs
  • Child care subsidy, flexible spending accounts, and Federal Child Care Centers
  • Program satisfaction and quality of services
  • Leadership, manager, and coworker support for work-life programs and participation
• Who can I ask if I have questions about the Federal Work-Life Survey? View more
  If you have questions, you are encouraged to ask your agency’s work-life program coordinator or email OPM’s Work-Life Survey Team at WorkLifeSurvey@opm.gov.