OPM Wants to Stop Measuring Federal Employee Morale. A New Survey Shows Why That Matters.
A new survey of federal employees who lost their jobs shows lasting damage to their finances and mental health, and it comes right as the Office of Personnel Management proposes cutting the very survey questions that would capture it going forward.
What the Survey Found
A group of former federal probationary employees surveyed roughly 300 of their fired colleagues across fourteen agencies and nearly every state, one year after their positions were eliminated. The results paint a different picture than the narrative that laid-off federal workers quickly landed better-paying private-sector jobs:
- Employment: Almost 17% of respondents were still unemployed a year later, and about 40% had been job-hunting for six months or more.
- Pay: Of those who found new work, more than two-thirds took a pay cut, and nearly half landed in jobs paying significantly less than their federal salary.
- Life Impact: Nearly half delayed major life events like marriage or buying a home, about one in six took out a loan, and a third delayed medical care.
- Mental Health: 95% reported new mental health symptoms, one in four started a psychiatric medication, and only 5% said they had fully recovered one year out, with 70% saying they were only partially recovered.
This comes against the backdrop of roughly 317,000 federal employees who were fired, resigned, or took a buyout since early last year, as the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) wound down its work by July 4.
Why OPM's Survey Proposal Matters
At the same time this data is emerging, OPM has proposed cutting back the questions on the Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey that measure morale and job satisfaction, and would give individual agencies more discretion over how much of the remaining results the public gets to see. Independent researchers just measured real, lasting damage from the past year and a half of layoffs, reclassifications, and reductions in force, and the proposed response is to ask fewer questions about it, not more.
What You Can Do
If you were separated from federal service and are struggling with the aftermath, you are not alone, and what you're experiencing has been documented by people who went through the same thing. If you are currently facing a removal, a reduction in force, or another adverse action, you may have appeal rights with strict deadlines, so document everything and talk to a qualified federal employment attorney or your union representative this week. And because OPM's survey proposal is not yet final, federal employees can weigh in by searching for OPM's strategic human capital proposal at regulations.gov.
The Bottom Line
If the workforce were fine, there would be no need to stop asking. Whatever the outcome of the rulemaking, the people who lived through the last year and a half of federal workforce cuts deserve to have their experience counted, and to know their legal options if they are still fighting for their jobs.
If you are facing a removal, RIF, or other adverse action and want to understand your appeal rights, attorneys for federal employees at Southworth PC offer free consultations to federal employees nationwide.
Legal Disclaimer: This content is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Federal employment situations are fact-specific and time-sensitive. Please consult a qualified federal employment attorney about your specific situation.