How seriously do government agencies take the misuse of authority or favoritism? And how does that affect how federal HR should approach policy? Learn more and get the statistics in this edition of our FEVs research.

1. PERCEPTIONS OF MERIT
SYSTEM PRINCIPLES IN
THE FEDERAL WORKFORCE
FEVS Analysis: Merit System Principles
OCTOBER 2019

2. Federal employees’ perceptions of merit system
principles have improved over time. However,
non-minority employee perceptions are improving
at a faster rate than minority employee perceptions.
FEVS MERIT SYSTEM PRINCIPLES
BY MINORITY STATUS

3. 45% 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
50%
55% MINORITY
58
55
54 55 57 58 59
45% 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
50%
55%
60%
65%
70%
58
55
61 61
63
65 67
45% 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
50%
55%
60%
MINORITY
65%
70%
54 55 57 58 59
NON-MINORITY
FEVS MERIT SYSTEM PRINCIPLES BY
MINORITY STATUS

4. 52%
75%
MINORITY
NON-MINORITY
DO YOU THINK THE MISUSE OF
AUTHORITY IS NOT TOLERATED IN
FEDERAL AGENCIES?
Q38.
Prohibited Personnel
Practices (for example, illegal-
ly discriminating for or against
any employee/applicant,
obstructing a person’s right
to compete for employment,
knowingly violating veterans’
preference requirements) are
not tolerated.

5. 45% 2014 2015 2016 2017 2
50%
52%
75%
Y
NORITY
44%
55%
MINORITY
NON-MINORITY
DO YOU THINK PERSONAL
ACTIONS OR FAVORITISM IS
NOT TOLERATED?
Q37.
Arbitrary action, personal
favoritism and coercion for
partisan political purposes
are not tolerated.

6. Differences in employee
perceptions highlight
opportunities for agencies
to demonstrate their
commitment to merit-
based treatment.
KEY TAKEAWAY

7. Regardless of employee
demographic status, the
application of merit system
principles should ensure all
Federal employees feel that
they are treated equally in
the workplace.
KEY TAKEAWAY

8. WHAT’S THE NEXT STEP?
Agency leadership has an important responsibility
to uphold and apply these principles in all decision-
making instances concerning hiring, pay, recognition,
managing performance, training, and retention.
PERFORMANCE
HIRING
TRAINING
PAY
RETENTION
RECOGNITION
$

9. WHAT’S THE NEXT STEP?
RETENTION
RECOGNITION
With FedViews, agencies
can uncover differences
in employee perceptions
of merit-based treatment
and take steps to correct
those differences.

10. LEARN MORE ABOUT FEDVIEWS
BY VISITING GOVSTRIVE.COM.
CONTACT US