NCSC offers new resource to measure workforce satisfaction and engagement

NCSC offers new resource to measure workforce satisfaction and engagement

October 9, 2024 -- State courts faced significant disruptions during the pandemic, requiring judges and staff to quickly adjust their court procedures and work habits. In many courts, this whirlwind of changes affected employee satisfaction, engagement, and well-being.

Recognizing this post-pandemic trend, NCSC and the CCJ/COSCA Pandemic Rapid Response Team developed the Court Employee Viewpoint Tool Kit. This resource offers court leaders practical guidance on conducting surveys, interviews, and listening sessions to understand employee perspectives, assess engagement levels, and identify areas for improvement to create a more welcoming work environment and improve court operations.

“By following recommendations in the tool kit, courts can take concrete steps to improve employee engagement and create a more positive and productive work environment,” said Lori Shemka, an NCSC court consultant and lead author of the tool kit. “This can lead to better outcomes for both court staff and the communities they serve.”

Tool Kit Components

One component of the tool kit is a comprehensive 125-question employee viewpoint survey that courts can use to gather insights on several topics, including employee well-being; overall work experience; workplace health and safety; diversity, equity, inclusion; and accessibility. This instrument builds on the CourTools Employee Satisfaction Survey and includes additional steps that courts can take to measure several dimensions of a healthy workforce.

Courts from Kentucky, Michigan, Nebraska, Oregon, and Pennsylvania partnered with NCSC to pilot the tool kit’s survey. NCSC provided technical assistance, guidance, and templates that courts could adapt to meet local needs.

Insights from these pilot courts informed the tool kit’s recommendations and key strategies for obtaining employee perspectives, including:

• Ensuring anonymity: Employees need to be confident that their responses will remain anonymous for them to provide honest feedback.
• Conducting one-on-one interviews: These interviews complement surveys by offering a deeper understanding of employee concerns and fostering a more personal connection between employees and leadership.
• Hosting listening sessions: These sessions give employees a platform to share their opinions and suggestions in a group setting, which can help identify common themes and areas of concern.

Building employee trust

During a summer webinar, "Unlocking the Secrets to Employee Success and Engagement with the New Court Employee Viewpoint Survey," panelists from several pilot courts discussed the importance of conducting employee surveys and strategies for building trust between court leaders and staff.

Judge Leonard G. Brown III from the Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas (Pennsylvania) emphasized the value of the feedback process. “The listening sessions that came out of the survey were fantastic,” he said. “If we’re not listening to our employees, I don’t think we’re caring for them, and we’re certainly not building trust.”

Ready to improve employee morale?

For guidance on implementing the Court Employee Viewpoint Tool Kit, contact Kristen Trebil-Halbersma.