Federal Human Capital Consulting

The pandemic placed pressure on the U.S. government to protect and provide for citizens, as well as on the federal workers tasked with carrying out the job. The strain on workers is visible in survey data: roughly one in three federal workers in the past year required more mental-health support than usual, according to the latest U.S. Office of Personnel Management’s Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey. Individuals increasingly expect their organizations to look after more than simply their financial well-being.

Our research suggests that employers who care for their employees in a more holistic manner will reap big benefits, in the form of higher retention rates and more productive workers. To better identify workers’ needs, federal agencies should implement a “Net Better Off” framework that focuses on six key dimensions of employee life and adopt proven practices—including continuous learning and setting people metrics—that a small minority of organizations excel at today.