DRAFT 1„Introductory Comment by Beverly Stein for inclusion on the handout from the January 1998 Countywide

DSS Annual EmployeeSurveyGood Government Benchmark AnalysisMultnomah County, OregonDepartment of Support ServicesJANUARY 1999www.co.multnomah.or.us/budget/eru/Dear DSS Employee,Once again, I’m pleased that so many of you took the time to respond to theDSS Employee Survey. Close to two thirds of you did return a survey andthat’s a strong response rate.We really tried to listen to your comments about the instrument itself andproduce a shorter, more understandable questionnaire. I think our successwas reflected in the lack of negative comments on clarity and length and thepositive response that the survey is both helpful and a good use of your timeand energy.I want to give special thanks to our survey committee: Theresa Sullivan,April Lewis, Steve Pearson, and Matt Nice. They really improved theproduct. Matt Nice deserves a special “thank you” for his work in tabulatingand analyzing the survey date and then producing a quality report.I found the responses really encouraging and useful. For example, wewanted to follow-up on the concern about a lack of recognition. Youranswers on what meaningful recognition is make it more likely that we willdo things that really address the issues. They were also in agreement withwhat I heard when I visited with many of you on this issue.The fact that we saw improved scores on management communication andtrust issues was exciting to me. I don’t expect us to be perfect, but we dowant to be moving in the ...