News

AF Climate Assessment results announced

  • Published
  • By Rick Brewer
  • 78th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  Civilians and Airmen here are satisfied with their jobs but say supervisors should do a better job of communicating with them and recognizing them for their work.

That's the consensus of nearly 4,000 Warner Robins Air Logistics Center employees* who voluntarily participated in the Air Force's 2008 Climate Assessment Survey, the results of which were distributed to major commands and units in May.

WR-ALC employees also feel they're forced to 'do more with less' - the workload hasn't been reduced even though the size of the workforce has decreased - but are still proud of their units, and say they 'talk them up' to their friends as great places to work.

While the Center didn't get high marks in four categories - Trust in Immediate Supervisor, Trust in Unit Senior Leadership, Unit Flexibility, and Recognition - it scored more than three points below the Air Force-wide total in just one category: Recognition (AF: 72, WR-ALC: 66.27), which asked respondents questions such as "Suggestions made by unit personnel are implemented in our daily work activities" and "When deserved, my unit leaders do a good of recognizing people in all grades and types of jobs."

Conversely, the Center scored about the same as the Air Force in five categories - My Job, Unit Commitment, Unit Performance, Resources, and Support for Deployment - while scoring more than three points above the Air Force-wide total (WR-ALC: 85.93, AF: 82) in the Satisfaction category, which asked respondents questions such as "I am satisfied with my job; I have a sense of fulfillment at the end of the day; and, I am a valued member of my unit."

Compared to the previous Air Force climate assessment survey, conducted in 2005, the Center scored higher in every category higher except Recognition, which slid 2 percent, from 68 to 66. In fact, with the exception of Support for Deployment, which moved up two points - from 87 to 89 - the Center improved its scores by at least five percentage points in each of the eight remaining categories: Unit Performance (+19), Satisfaction (+18), Resources (+12), Trust in Immediate Supervisor (+10), My Job (+10), Unit Commitment (+9), Unit Flexibility (+8), and Trust in Unit Senior Leadership (+5).

Commenting on the findings, WR-ALC Commander Maj. Gen. Polly A. Peyer said they confirm the Center is heading in the right direction. "I value our people, and am very proud of their accomplishments," she said.

While she acknowledged the results show that WR-ALC has some work to do, particularly communicating better with employees and letting them know they're appreciated, she added that one of the Center's five strategic initiatives is focused on doing just that.

"We've known for some time that employee communication and recognition are two areas in which we need to do better," she said.

*The employee total may not include a representative number of 402nd Maintenance Wing employees. During the same period, the unit's team members participated in a similar but separate Air Force and Gallup survey called CheckMATE.