What is the Working for Queensland Employee Opinion Survey?

The Working for Queensland Employee Opinion Survey is your opportunity to have a say about your experiences of working in the Queensland Public Service. The survey is being conducted as a census of 230 000 employees in Queensland public service departments and offices. It does not include government-owned corporations. The survey explores various aspects of workplace climate, including employee engagement, job satisfaction and leadership. The survey consists of individual questions about your perceptions of your work, your manager, your team and your organisation, as well as personal development. The survey also provides you with an opportunity to add your own comments in the last question of the survey. You are strongly encouraged to have your say as taking part in the survey is an important opportunity for you to play a part in shaping the future of the Queensland Public Service.

When does the survey start?

The survey commences on 3 June 2013. Employees can complete the Working for Queensland Employee Opinion Survey over a four week period, from 3 June to 28 June 2013.

Who is administering the survey?

An independent company will be administering the survey - ORC International. A leading global market research firm since their founding 75 years ago, ORC International is experienced in coordinating employee opinion surveys for large organisations such as the Australian Public Service. You can visit their website www.orcinternational.com.au to find out more.

Is it compulsory to take part?

No. Participation is voluntary, however, you are encouraged to take this opportunity to have a say in how your department or agency and the Queensland Public Service can improve in the future. We aim to get as many responses from staff as possible to produce more reliable, robust data and ensure that the views are representative of all our staff.

Why should I complete this survey?

You will be helping to improve the working environment of your department or agency. Your feedback will contribute to building a better Queensland Public Service You can provide feedback anonymously. 1

How will my response make a difference?

It is expected that agencies will use the survey results to develop workplace strategies for organisational improvement. The survey results will also be used to develop strategies to improve the capability and performance of the broader Queensland Public Service, and to monitor our progress over time.

How is the Working for Queensland Employee Opinion Survey different from the Renewing our Culture and Values Survey?
The Working for Queensland Employee Opinion Survey is about exploring various dimensions of workplace climate, such as leadership, management, job satisfaction and employee engagement through the eyes of employees. Research shows that employee engagement plays a vital role in organisational performance. In contrast, the Renewing our Culture and Values Pulse Survey was about giving public service employees an opportunity to get involved in reshaping our whole-of-government culture and values. Culture is made up of the shared values, beliefs, symbols, and behaviours of an organisations members. Together the two surveys provide a powerful snapshot of workplaces across the service.

Confidentiality
Who sees my answers?
Questionnaires are submitted directly to the contractor responsible for analysing the information. The contractor de-identifies responses to ensure that demographic information you provide (such as where you work) will NOT enable your responses to be linked back to you. Any information provided in your comments which may identify you will be removed by ORC International before it is provided to your agency and the Public Service Commission. Individuals completed surveys will not be seen by any agency in the Queensland Public Service. The analysis of results will be undertaken by ORC International. Survey results will not be accessible for reporting where there are less than 10 respondents in a group. The views of these smaller groups will be incorporated into higher level reports to protect the individual confidentiality of all survey participants.

How can I be certain my feedback will remain confidential?

Your responses will be strictly confidential. No identifying information will be published or released. Your responses are protected by the Information Privacy Act 2009 (Queensland). The survey is being conducted by an independent survey provider, ORC International. ORC International is a member of the Australian Market and Social Research Society and as such work to a strict industry code of conduct that protects the individual confidentiality of all survey participants. The personal details in the questionnaire will not be used to identify how individuals have responded to the survey but to understand any differences across staff groups within the Queensland Public Service. Please remember that ORC International is legally bound to ensure that no identifying information is published or released.

Why does the survey ask me about my age, educational qualifications and other personal information?
It is important that we can analyse the data in different ways. This helps us to identify priorities in different parts of the business and decide where we need to take action. Data such as Equality of Employment Opportunity (EEO) information and the type of work you do will help us to identify whether there are any special issues or support we need to provide to different groups of our workforce. Therefore, please complete the personal details section. It will make the survey data more meaningful, and will enhance our ability to act on the results. It will in no way lead to you being identified.

Where is the Survey Data Stored?

Responses you provide on this survey will be transferred to ORC Internationals secure server environment in London, United Kingdom. ORC International staff in Australia (Melbourne and Perth) will then access and analyse the data while using ORC Internationals secure server environment in London. Completed paper surveys will be kept in a secure storage facility for a period of six months before being destroyed.

Reporting of survey results

When will the survey results be available?
The Public Service Commission will provide departments and agencies with access to their survey results in September. No identifying information will be released to any agency. These results will include data at lower organisational levels (division, branch, etc) where available. Results for smaller work teams will only be provided where there is a minimum of ten responses. The views of smaller groups will be incorporated into high level reports. Survey results at the whole-of-government level will be published in November 2013 in the Working for Queensland Employee Opinion Survey Report. The independent survey provider, ORC International, will prepare this report based on their analysis of survey results. This survey report will be accompanied by the State of the Service Report. This report will be prepared by the Public Service Commission and discuss survey results, organisational and workforce trends in the context of the governments broader public sector reforms.

How will the data be used?

The data will be used to develop strategies to improve the capability and performance of the Queensland Public Service. This is the first survey of this size and will generate reliable service-wide results as well as reports for individual agencies and access to results for divisions or branches and work units. Previously, results from a survey of 130 000 people employed under the Public Service Act 2008 were published in the State of the Service Report 2010.

Read State of the Service Report 2010. Read State of the Service Report 2010: A Snapshot.

What will happen after the results are published?

Agencies will use the survey results to guide and inform workplace strategies for action. Working at a whole of government level, the Public Service Commission will use the results to identify sector-wide issues and work in partnership with agencies to help make the Queensland Public Service the most responsive and respected in the nation.

Completing the survey

How long will the survey take?
The survey should take around 15-20 minutes to complete. The time taken depends on how long you think about your responses and whether you wish to add any free text comments in the last question of the survey. You can stop at any time, exit and continue later. Your previous responses will be saved and you can continue from where you left off. Once you re-enter the survey, you will not be able to review or change previous responses. Please ensure you close your browser when you exit the survey and press submit when you have finished the survey. You have a period of 4 weeks between 3 June and 28 June 2013 to complete the survey. The on-line survey will then be closed so that the responses can be processed ready for reporting. You will not be able to send a response after this deadline.

How can I access the survey?

The survey will be distributed in different ways to help ensure everyone is included and gets an opportunity to have their say. Most employees will receive the survey at their work email address. Employees who do not have access to a computer will receive a paper copy of the survey. All paper surveys will be accompanied by a reply paid envelope, so you can return your completed survey to ORC International. Surveys will be emailed in one of two ways (you will be advised which option your agency has selected): from ORC International: the email will include a link to the survey. This link is unique, so dont forward the email to your colleagues. You are able to forward this to your home email for completion. from your Chief Executive: the email will include a generic survey link, which will ask you to confirm the agency you work for, and then ask you to set your own personal password. You need to set a password in order to complete the survey. Do not share your password with anyone. You will be able to complete the survey in multiple sittings by re entering your password.

If you do not receive a link to the survey or a paper copy by 10 June, please contact the Customer Care Service (see Further Assistance below).

What do I do if I have difficulty accessing or completing the survey?

ORC International will provide a Customer Care Service throughout the four week period in which the survey is conducted. You can contact the Customer Care Service during business hours by phoning 1800 065 312 or emailing 2013EOS@workingforqueensland.com.

I'm too busy to fill in the questionnaire at work; can I do it from home?
We would prefer you to fill-in the questionnaire during working hours. You are able to email the survey link to your home email address provided you have internet access at home. If you have received a paper copy questionnaire you can complete this outside work hours if you would prefer to complete the survey in your own time, or away from your workplace.

I dont understand/know how to answer a question what should I do?

The best thing to do is answer the question as best you can - as you understand it. If you feel unable to answer a question, you can ask someone for clarification, for example your manager, or if you do not feel comfortable then please leave the question blank.

What happens if I have literacy/sight problems?

If you have any issues, the questions can be read to you over the phone and your answers will be strictly confidential. To do this please contact the ORC International Customer Care Service (see Further Assistance below).

Will I be able to complete the surve y if I dont have internet access?

Yes, you will be able to complete the survey because all departments and public service offices have white listed the survey providers website for the duration of the survey period. This means that you will not need personal internet access to complete the survey. If you can access the intranet you can do the survey.

Online Survey FAQs

Can my response be traced back to me or my PC?
No. The survey is being hosted by ORC International on their server, therefore no one at the Public Service Commission or any of the agencies will have access to any of the responses at any point during or after the survey. ORC International is bound by regulatory code of conducts for employee research and therefore guarantees to protect the anonymity and confidentiality of all respondents to all of its surveys.

Can I browse through the questionnaire before filling it in?

Yes, however, after browsing, please go back to the beginning and fill it in. Please try not to press the next button at the end of the survey before you are ready as otherwise your survey will be submitted and there will be no way to retrieve and amend your responses.

Do ORC International questionnaires work using browsers other than Internet Explorer?
Yes. ORC International surveys work on mainstream browsers but because of the wide variety of Internet viewing software available, it is inevitable that some people may experience problems. ORC International has a support desk and email address that allow you to raise any technical issues with the survey. If you do experience any issues in relation to completing the survey, please let ORC International know and they will do their best to resolve them.

I can't get the online survey to work. What should I do?

Contact the ORC International help desk to seek assistance in the first instance on 1800 065 312 or 2013EOS@workingforqueensland.com.

Paper Survey FAQs

Who receives paper surveys?
Employees that dont have email addresses will be given an opportunity to complete the survey in paper form. The majority of employees however, will complete it online. Survey coordinators in your department or agency have nominated the number of paper surveys that will be required and the employees that will receive them. All paper surveys will come with a reply paid envelope so that you can send your survey directly back to ORC International for processing.

What happens to my paper survey?

As a part of ORC Internationals adherence to privacy and quality standards, ORC International will input the survey responses from the paper survey and then securely store the surveys onsite in their offices for three months. Completed paper surveys are securely stored for a period of six months and then securely and confidentially destroyed.

Further assistance
If I have any additional questions or concerns about the census, what can I do?
If you have any problems completing your questionnaire you can call the ORC International help desk on 1800 065 312 or 2013EOS@workingforqueensland.com between 3 June and 28 June 2013. If you have questions about the census, before or after these dates please contact your agency survey coordinator or email the Public Service Commission workingforqldeos@psc.qld.gov.au