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.