George Mason University
PAE-12: Employee Satisfaction Evaluation

Since 2000, Mason has had a triennial Quality of Work Life survey. The first two surveys (2000 and 2003) were conducted with a sample of Mason employees, however beginning in 2006, all university employees were invited to participate in the survey. The survey is comprehensive, touching on a number of work/life issues including salary, benefits, work unit relationships, fairness and autonomy/growth. The findings are compiled by a distinguished faculty member in our Psychology Department. Input from faculty and staff through the Quality of Work Life survey has been responsible for the creation of our Telework/Flextime policy (2002), renamed Flexible Work in 2008, the Mason shuttle between the Fairfax and Prince William campuses, and much more. In late 2010, the Quality of Work Life Task Force assessed the survey and felt that it was getting a little long. A number of questions had been added over the 10 year span of the survey. To streamline it, the Task Force decided to maintain a core 15-20 question survey and continue to administer it every 3 years. In between survey periods, the Task Force plans to administer short, timely surveys on topics of interest to faculty and staff. The Task Force administered a “Flex Census” in February of 2011 asking for faculty and staff input on flexible work options and alternate transportations options at Mason. Over 1000 people took the survey.