The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) desperately needs a strategy to sustain workforce “readiness and resilience” to combat chronically low moral in the agency, according to a new report.
The Institute of Medicine conducted the report at the request of the DHS, who was concerned about its workforce and the DHSTogether program intended to build resilience and wellness in the agency. That program lacks a vision statement, specific goals, or measurable objectives the report says.
The DHS lacks a comprehensive view of the resilience, readiness, and health of its workforce since the agency is without common metrics, strategy, or framework to monitor employee resilience and wellness.
Plus, the DHSTogehter program has suffered from limited funding, with $1.5 million allocated to it in fiscal 2012 to $500,000 in fiscal 2014. The DHS wants to spend $1.13 million on the program during the next fiscal year.
The DHS has the lowest overall employee morale of any cabinet department, according to the Office of Personnel Management federal employee annual survey.
“We commend DHS for recognizing the importance of its workforce in achieving the DHS mission and for requesting advice,” said James Peake, chair of the committee that wrote the report. “However, there is work to be done to improve the readiness and resilience of the DHS workforce, which will be a large undertaking and require input from and coordination among every facet of the agency.”
The DHS needs to work toward having a workforce that is adaptable, finds purpose and meaning in their jobs, and is productive and engaged, the report explains.
“The committee views the DHS readiness and resilience effort as something that needs to be embedded in the core culture of DHS while maintaining the rich diversity that the component agencies bring to the organization,” the report says.
In order to turn things around, the committee suggested the enactment of metrics, as well as a strategic 5-year plan. The secretary of DHS should review current roles, responsibilities, accountability, and authorities for workforce readiness and resilience at DHS. Also, the DHS should develop and implement a strong and diverse communications strategy for both internal and external relations.
