Organizational Excellence

Be an innovative, effective, engaged, and transparent organization focused on quality programs and services.

Goal 3, Objective 2

Conduct an employee engagement survey by mid-2022, and based on survey data, develop and implement strategies to incorporate survey outcomes into future operational planning.

In Progress
50%

Updated: January 2025

Summary of objective implementation status (achievements or progress over last year; significant delays or issues, etc.)

The employee engagement survey is a key strategic priority for the County of Sonoma to evaluate and improve employee engagement and the County’s performance and services to our community. The survey will help the County to better understand where we are doing well and identify areas for improvement.

Over the past year, Human Resources selected the Institute for Public Sector Employee Engagement (a division of CPS-HR) to assist with the design, development, implementation, data collection, and analysis of an employee engagement survey. The survey was launched on November 4, 2024, to all permanent part-time and full-time employees. CPS-HR will provide reports at the Department level, as well as organization-wide metrics to inform future strategies.

The survey will incorporate the US Census demographic categories allowing participants to provide a way to communicate in great detail various aspects of their identity, including race, language preference, gender identity, and other factors. In addition, the survey will ask respondents about age, tenure with the County, plans to leave/stay, and other work-related demographic questions. Including these categories will allow County leadership to better understand how different groups are experiencing their county employment.

Key milestone update (include relevant metrics, if applicable)

MILESTONE

ORIGINAL DATE

UPDATED DATE

STATUS

Survey partner agencies and identify any that have conducted an employee engagement survey

September 2021

 

Completed

 Identify potential vendors

October 2021

 

Completed

 Compete for Funding ($5million)

February 2022

February 2024

Completed – Board approved $50,000

Conduct RFP if needed and elect vendor

March 2022

March 2024

Completed

Identify and engage stakeholders and labor representatives

March 2022

March 2024

Completed

Develop communications plan

April 2022

April 2024

Completed

Conduct survey

June 2022

November 2024

In Process

Establish a cross-County working group to begin evaluating data

December 2022

December 2024

Working group identified

Request funding for program implementation as needed

January 2023

January 2025

TBD

Evaluate options, engage appropriate stakeholders

June 2023

February 2025

 

Plan, develop and implement new programs/policies as needed

December 2023

July 2025

 

Conduct subsequent surveys no sooner than every 2 years to assess progress and to inform continued need for program/policy development

ongoing

ongoing

 

Coordination and partnership update

Working closely with Office of Equity to align design and implementation of the survey with Racial Equity Action Plan measures. Additionally, engaging with Employee Organizations/Unions to promote participation in survey, and anticipating their participation in the development of operational adjustments resulting from the survey data analysis.

Community, equity, and climate update

Active alignment with the Sonoma County Racial Equity Action Plan (adopted by Board in May 2024). Initiative is internal to the County organization so no current community engagement is planned.

If this objective received Strategic Plan funding, please provide amount spent to date for non-position related funding.

CPS HR Consulting will be conducting the employee engagement survey. The $50,000 allocation from Strategic Plan funding is expected to be fully spent by June 30, 2025.