Mixed bag

Survey: satisfaction rises, confidence in job security drops

The business environment is a bit shaky these days as headlines shout about a tumbling stock market, corporate accounting misdeeds and the consequences of Sept. 11.

With that as background, 62 percent (or 103,195) of Boeing employees took the time in May to complete the annual Employee Survey and, in general, employees indicated that their working environment is slightly improved since the 2001 survey.

The Employee Satisfaction Index, which is based on the average responses to 12 questions dealing with workplace issues, rose to 56 percent positive, up one point from a year ago. This is the highest ESI score since the index was developed in 1993.

"I personally read employee comments and we take this data seriously," said Boeing Chairman and CEO Phil Condit. "It validates what we hear as we go around the company. The input from employees helps us gauge how well the team is doing as we steer the company toward new opportunities and better efficiencies."

Contributing to the ESI gain are responses to statements: My job makes good use of my skills and abilities had a 71 percent positive response (a one-point gain from 2001); The people I work with cooperate to get the job done received a 78 percent positive response (a two-point gain); and I feel encouraged to come up with new and better ways of doing things received a 65 percent positive response (another two-point increase).

Traditionally on the low end of the scale, the pay question crossed the 50 percent threshold this year with 52 percent of employees (a 4 percent gain) responding positively.

This year employees were asked again to indicate if they had participated in an enterprise business initiative such as Lean or Integrated Product Teams. Analyses confirm that participating employees, in general, are more positive about their jobs, managers and work life than employees who do not participate in these initiatives.

"The data suggests that business initiatives not only help us to improve work processes and cut costs, but also improve employees' work conditions," said Condit. "It says that people who are involved feel a lot better about what's going on."

Two notable exceptions to an overall, steady upward trend are the two survey questions dealing with job security and the company's ability to compete.

The question How do you rate Boeing in providing job security for people like yourself? received a 29 percent positive response — a six-point drop from 2001; and the statement Boeing is making the changes necessary to compete effectively received a 39 percent positive response — a four-point drop from last year.

"The reduction of approximately 30,000 employees since September 11 was clearly on people's minds as they completed this survey," said Laurette Koellner, senior vice president and chief People and Administration officer. "Although people seem to understand that this was a business response to a change in business conditions, it doesn't make it any easier for anyone, and people are concerned about job security."

Additionally, Koellner commented on gains in areas related to employee involvement, stating "I am very pleased that the results show improvement related to employee involvement. It's important we continue finding ways to encourage employees to stay involved, or become involved. I encourage all managers to review the data carefully. Survey results provide us with important insight and ideas. We value this input."

Enterprisewide survey data, as well as data for the individual business units, are available on the Boeing intranet at http://employeesurvey.web.boeing.com.