FY 2019 Annual Performance Plan and Report - Goal 5 Objective 2

Topics on this page: Goal 5. Objective 2 | Objective 5.2 Table of Related Performance Measures

Goal 5. Objective 2: Manage human capital to achieve the HHS mission

As the Department looks to FY 2022 and beyond, it imagines all the achievements that can be reached when workforce performance is heightened, efficiencies achieved, and accountability strengthened. The Department must continue to create a flexible and agile workforce that responds and adapts to change: change in technology, change in society, change in expectations, and change in scientific findings. HHS needs the leaders of tomorrow today. To this end, the Department will build a world-class Federal management team and a workforce ready to collaborate with colleagues within the Department, among other Federal departments, and outside the Federal Government, to seek change that improves and enhances the health and well-being of Americans.

Management will need to help build and maintain the workforce in a way that retains current knowledge, anticipates advances in medicine and technology, and prepares internal staff for future leadership positions. To fulfill the Department’s mission, there is a need to recruit, hire, and retain talent with STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) skills. Targeted recruitment efforts will become more important as mission-critical positions are vacated. Competition from private industry for new employees will continue to be a challenge in recruitment efforts.

An improved and engaged workforce is enhanced by a world-class management team. HHS will strengthen its management team by providing the tools, training, skill development, and empowerment needed to encourage its workforce to work to its highest potential, accountable for its efficiency and effectiveness toward meeting the HHS mission. To keep abreast of advances and lead change in these fields, HHS will continue to bring together the best expertise and talent—to serve the American people the best way possible.

The Office of the Secretary leads this objective. All divisions contribute to the achievement of this objective.

Objective 5.2 Table of Related Performance Measures

Increase HHS employee engagement through Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey (FEVS) (Lead Agency - ASA; Measure ID - 2.6)

Among very large Federal agencies (greater than 75,000 employees), HHS had the highest employee engagement score for FY 2017 (72%). In FY 2017, HHS senior executives focused on achieving a minimum of 70 percent in each of the five areas of HHS FEVS performance: participation; employee engagement; satisfaction; belief that action will be taken based on survey results; and effective communication. The FEVS places emphasis on organizations taking local action to support enterprise improvement in the above five areas of focus, as well as other areas for improvement as appropriate. In FY 2018 and 2019, HHS will continue to use FEVS data to monitor the impact of its efforts to support enterprise improvement.

Decrease the cycle time to hire new employees (Lead Agency - ASA; Measure ID - 2.8)

Outcomes for this measure are strongly influenced by the ongoing hiring freeze. In FY 2018, ASA will review the hiring process to identify bottlenecks and potential efficiencies. In FY 2019, ASA will implement any necessary changes.