Scandals dampen state worker mood
LANSING – Most Michigan state government employees are more engaged in their work than ever, a new survey shows, but morale has suffered in agencies rocked by recent scandals.
Overall, 76% of state employees are engaged in their work, based on their responses to questions about whether or not they're proud to work for the state, understand their contributions to the state, intend to stay with the state, and more. That's the highest score since the Gov. Rick Snyder's Office of Good Government first gave the survey in 2012.
Most agencies saw their scores improve over 2015, the last time the survey was given. But employee morale took a hit at the Department of Environmental Quality, the Veterans Affairs Agency, and the Talent Investment Agency. All three of those agencies have been embroiled in high-profile scandals.
The DEQ was slammed for its role in the Flint water crisis, and five of its employees were criminally charged. The Talent Investment Agency has been widely criticized for a faulty automated system that incorrectly accused people of unemployment insurance fraud. Veterans Affairs oversees the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans, where auditors found lax care provided by contracted nursing staff.
Read more: http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/news/local/capitol/2017/05/25/scandals-dampen-michigan-state-worker-mood/341993001/