The results of the 2022 Employee Perspective Survey

Overall, this year’s Institution-wide results returned to pre-pandemic levels after climbing above them for the past two years.

In August, you were asked to complete the 2022 Smithsonian Employee Perspective Survey (SEPS), and I am pleased to report that more than three-fifths of employees participated. My leadership team and I appreciate your feedback, as it provides detailed insights into how staff from across the organization feel about working at the Smithsonian. 

Overall, this year’s Institution-wide results returned to pre-pandemic levels after climbing above them for the past two years. We will benchmark this trend against other agency data when it is released. We want to build upon our areas of strength—such as a strong sense of mission—while addressing the areas that need more attention.

We use your input to effect positive change.  For example, last year’s survey results reflected a need for us to do more to ensure that our staff feels safe, supported, and has ways to report incidents of harassment. In response, we expanded the capacity of the SI Civil Program and reinforced our commitment to establishing a harassment-free workplace. The results of this year’s survey are encouraging and show that while we still have room to improve, we are making progress in this important area. 

This year, our resultsshow us that we need to do more to ensure that the Smithsonian empowers you to accomplish your work. We need to provide professional development opportunities and the tools and resources you need to grow in your careers and successfully execute your missions. Further, we realize that the Institution as a whole must become nimbler and more innovative.

We already have efforts underway to advance some of these concerns:

• We have launched a strategic initiative to develop a professional development program that invests in employees at all grade levels and facilitates the diversification of experiences and access throughout the Institution. 
• We are exploring ways to become a more data-driven, innovative, and nimble Institution both internally and externally under the umbrella of our Digital Transformation Office.
• We are tackling the long-term challenges we have faced in operational areas such as hiring and financial planning under the leadership of the Under Secretary for Administration.

We have more work to do, and in acting on the results of this year’s survey, we will further support you in your contributions that drive the Smithsonian.

While it can take some time for you to experience the results of these efforts first-hand, we are taking action at the Institution level and will work with Directors to translate these efforts into impacts throughout the organization.

SOAR has provided unit-level results to the directors of organizations with 10 or more respondents., and I have asked them to share some version of the quantitative results with their staff. We have also asked directors to develop strategies to address low scoring areas in their unit, while maintaining and bolstering areas of success. OHR is providing an action planning toolkit to help each Smithsonian organization craft and implement tailored plans.

Thank you again for your responses and for everything you do on behalf of the Smithsonian.

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