Federal employees reported high satisfaction with available benefit programs according to the Office of Personnel Management’s (OPM) 2023 OPM Federal Employee Benefits Survey (FEBS) released by OPM on Sept. 18.
FEBS is OPM’s primary employee benefit survey used to collect data on benefit program importance, adequacy, and value.
Most employees, around 90 percent or more, reported that benefits such as the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) and Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) met their needs, according to OPM. TSP, a retirement savings and investment plan for Federal employees and uniformed services members, and FEHB, an employer-sponsored group health insurance program, were considered the most important benefits regardless of whether respondents were enrolled.
“The federal workforce delivers key services to the American people every day. We must support the people who are doing that critical work. The Biden-Harris Administration has strengthened benefits for our employees and their families and this year’s FEBS is a positive sign we’re on the right track,” Rob Shriver, acting director of OPM, said in a statement.
“At OPM, we will continue to support all of our workers, ensuring the federal government remains a model employer to attract and retain the nation’s top talent,” he continued.
Other highlights in the report include expanded mental health coverage, obesity prevention and treatment, gender affirming care, and infertility treatment. Paid Parental Leave was also shown as highly important.
“The report also shows the greatest impact of this benefit is on recruitment and retention among Millennial/Gen Z employees, around 70% of whom reported this benefit influenced their decision to take the job or their decision to stay in the job,” said OPM about the parental leave benefit.
OPM’s latest survey ran from October 17 to November 17, 2023, with double the previous sample size at 100,000 employees.
