Since September 2019 I have – together with Kim Sass Mikkelsen (Roskilde), Christian Schuster (UCL) and Katarina Staronova (Comenius University) – collaborated with the Government Office of the Government of Slovakia to design and implement a National Survey of Public Servants in Slovakia.

Between February and April 2020, we conducted the survey of public servants in Slovakia. The survey was completed by more than 11,000 civil servants from central government ministries, other central offices, district offices and other state administrative bodies.

From the Government Office Zuzana Dzurendova supported the survey of public servants in Slovakia. The project report with detailed results of the survey was completed in October 2020.

Main Results of the survey of public servants in Slovakia

Job satisfaction

• 72% of civil servants agree or strongly agree that they are satisfied with their job.

Work motivation

• 85% of civil servants agree or strongly agree that they are willing to do extra work for their job that isn’t really expected of them.

Turnover intention

• 11% of civil servants agree or strongly agree that they want to leave the public administration within the next two years.

Career advancement

• 61% of civil servants indicate that job performance is ‘very important’ for their future career advancement.
• 14% of civil servants indicate that support from a politician or someone with political links is ‘very important’ for their future career advancement.

Salary management

• 24% of civil servants agree or strongly agree that they are satisfied with their salary.
• 25% of civil servants agree or strongly agree that their prospects of a pay rise or bonus payment improve if they perform well at work.

Performance appraisal

• 92% of service servants have had at least one performance appraisal during the last two years.
• 51% of civil servants confirmed that someone set performance objectives for them before the beginning of the evaluation.
• 65% of civil servants confirmed that someone discussed the results of the performance appraisal with them.

Job protection

• 21% of civil servants agree or strongly agree that it would be difficult to dismiss them from the civil service.
• 42% of civil servants agree or strongly agree that transitions between governments affect the stability of their job.

Leadership

• 41% of civil servants agree or strongly agree that their superior says things that make employees proud to be part of their organization.
• 47% of civil servants agree or strongly agree that their superior cares for their well-being.
• 52% of civil servants agree or strongly agree that their direct superior sets an example of how to do things the right way in terms of ethics.
• 44% of civil servants agree or strongly agree that their direct superior discusses ethics or values with employees.