Survey: High Rates of Burnout and Harassment Among State and Local Government Workers

Results of a new survey suggest that government employees are still driven to make a difference in their communities, but many of these same workers are experiencing burnout and harassment related to their jobs.

The People Lab at Harvard Kennedy School recently released the findings from Public Servant Pulse, a survey that the school calls the first of its kind.

The survey captured responses from nearly 4,800 public servants, including state, county, city and other local government employees representing 857 unique cities and 475 unique counties, according to a Kennedy School statement.

The results offer “the most comprehensive national picture to date of how the people who deliver public services experience their work,” the statement read, noting public servants’ motivation to make an impact through their work.

For example, 63% of respondents said the desire to serve the public or make a difference in their communities drove them to pursue a public sector career. Eighty percent of the government employees surveyed said they are at least somewhat proud to tell others where they work.

Other figures, however, highlight the ongoing issue of burnout among the government workforce.

For example, 40% of respondents reported dealing with at least one symptom of burnout, while 27% said they intend to leave their jobs in the next 12 months. Another 20% indicated they’re unsure if they’ll remain with their current government employer.

In addition, 35% of the employees polled said they have experienced harassment at work—bullying, threats or attacks, for example—in the past year. More than 20% said they have dealt with harassment from internal sources such as coworkers or supervisors, while 17% reported experiencing harassment from community residents or media members.

Enduring such harassing behavior was “strongly linked” to worse workplace outcomes, according to the survey. For example, employees dealing with harassment were more likely to report emotional exhaustion, and were more apt to want to leave their current jobs.

Such findings highlight the need to understand the challenges public servants face and what they need to overcome them and thrive at work, said Elizabeth Linos, Emma Bloomberg professor of public policy and management at Harvard Kennedy School and faculty director of The People Lab, in a statement.

“Understanding and investing in the people who keep government running is critical,” said Linos, “if we are to strengthen government’s capacity to deliver for its residents.”