VSEA DOC Worker Survey 2017
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1.
Full Name (Required)
(Required.)
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2.
Title / Rank (Required)
(Required.)
*
3.
Work Location
(Required.)
Northern State Correctional Facility (NSCF) - Newport
Northwest State Correctional Facility (NWSCF) - Swanton
Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility (CRCF) - South Burlington
Northeast Correctional Complex (NERCF & CCWC) - St. Johnsbury
Marble Valley Regional Correctional Facility (MVRCF) - Rutland
Southeast State Correctional Facility (SESCF) - Windsor
Southern State Correctional Facility (SSCF) - Springfield
Probation and Parole office
Prefer not to answer
A facility (prefer not to specify)
A field office (prefer not to specify)
Central Office
Probation and Parole Office:
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4.
Shift
(Required.)
1st
2nd
3rd
Monday to Friday, business hours
5.
How many years of experience do you have working for the Department of Corrections?
6.
How many years have you worked at the current position and location
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7.
How would you rank employee morale in DOC?
(Required.)
Morale is Very Low
Morale is Below Average
Morale is OK
Morale is Better than Average
Morale is Great
Comment
*
8.
How important are the following to you
(Required.)
Very important
Somewhat important
Neutral
Not that important
Not important at all
Staffing levels
Very important
Somewhat important
Neutral
Not that important
Not important at all
Cuts to pay and benefits
Very important
Somewhat important
Neutral
Not that important
Not important at all
Threat of assaults
Very important
Somewhat important
Neutral
Not that important
Not important at all
Closing of facilities
Very important
Somewhat important
Neutral
Not that important
Not important at all
Privatization of DOC services
Very important
Somewhat important
Neutral
Not that important
Not important at all
Protective safety and self-defensive gear
Very important
Somewhat important
Neutral
Not that important
Not important at all
Employee morale
Very important
Somewhat important
Neutral
Not that important
Not important at all
Training
Very important
Somewhat important
Neutral
Not that important
Not important at all
Inmate classification system
Very important
Somewhat important
Neutral
Not that important
Not important at all
Comment
*
9.
How effective and useful of tax payer dollars are these programs
(Required.)
Very effective and useful
Somewhat effective and useful
Neutral
Not that effective and useful
Not effective and useful at all
Vermont Correctional Industries
Very effective and useful
Somewhat effective and useful
Neutral
Not that effective and useful
Not effective and useful at all
Offender Responsibility Planning
Very effective and useful
Somewhat effective and useful
Neutral
Not that effective and useful
Not effective and useful at all
Vermont Treatment Program for Sexual Abusers
Very effective and useful
Somewhat effective and useful
Neutral
Not that effective and useful
Not effective and useful at all
Risk Reduction Program (RRP)
Very effective and useful
Somewhat effective and useful
Neutral
Not that effective and useful
Not effective and useful at all
Vermont Domestic Abuse Teams and Programs
Very effective and useful
Somewhat effective and useful
Neutral
Not that effective and useful
Not effective and useful at all
Substance Abuse Programs
Very effective and useful
Somewhat effective and useful
Neutral
Not that effective and useful
Not effective and useful at all
Transitional Housing Programs
Very effective and useful
Somewhat effective and useful
Neutral
Not that effective and useful
Not effective and useful at all
College credit programs
Very effective and useful
Somewhat effective and useful
Neutral
Not that effective and useful
Not effective and useful at all
Effective Practices in Community Supervision (EPICS)
Very effective and useful
Somewhat effective and useful
Neutral
Not that effective and useful
Not effective and useful at all
Offender Management System (OMS)
Very effective and useful
Somewhat effective and useful
Neutral
Not that effective and useful
Not effective and useful at all
Comment
*
10.
Effective Practices in Community Supervision (EPICS):
(check all that apply)
(Required.)
Is a great program
Makes my work and the services I provide
better
Will improve over time
Makes my work and the services I provide
worse
Is a waste of time and resources
Does not apply to my work
Comment
*
11.
Offender Management System (OMS):
(check all that apply)
(Required.)
Is a great tool
Makes my work and the services I provide
better
Will improve over time
Makes my work and the services I provide
worse
Is a waste of time and resources
Does not apply to my work
Comment
12.
What % of feedback from central office you receive is negative?
0-25%
50%
75%
100%
0-25%
50%
75%
100%
13.
What % of feedback from central office you receive is positive?
0-25%
50%
75%
100%
0-25%
50%
75%
100%
*
14.
Are you currently seeking other employment because of dissatisfaction with DOC?
(Required.)
YES
NO
Prefer not to answer
Comment
15.
Have you ever experienced a situation where favoritism has affected any of the following (please check all that apply)
ordering over
supervisory feedback
imposition of discipline for similar types of worker violations
light duty (injured at work)
light duty (injured outside of work)
unfairness in post placement during the shift bidding process
*
16.
Do you think DOC's current hiring practices are fair?
(Required.)
YES
NO
Comment
*
17.
Do you feel central office policies and directives create an antagonistic work environment (with or without intention)?
(Required.)
YES
NO
Comment
*
18.
Are you comfortable with providing feedback that may be contrary to direction of central office to central office directors?
(Required.)
YES
NO
Comment
*
19.
Do you believe information from inmates is being used inappropriately to investigate and/or manipulate staff?
(Required.)
YES
NO
Comment
*
20.
Do you think your commitment to the department has increased, decreased, or remained the same since you came to the department?
(Required.)
Increased
Decreased
Remained the same
Comment
*
21.
Do you feel you have a higher than usual amount of work related stress?
(Required.)
Yes
No
Stress is normal part of the job
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22.
In what way(s) has work-related stress negatively impacted your work? (Select all that apply)
(Required.)
Relationship with co-workers
Ability to perform my job duties as expected
Providing safety and services to rehabilitate offenders
Other (please specify)
23.
What do you feel are the causes of stress in the correctional field? (Select all that apply)
Compensation and benefits
Schedule
Lack of opportunity for growth
DOC Policies for employees
DOC Policies for inmates
Staffing levels
Poor Public Image
Problems with Co-workers
Inmate Manipulations
Other (please specify)
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24.
How much of an impact do the following issues have on your working conditions and the services you provide?
(Required.)
Not an issue
A minor concern
Neutral
A serious concern
Major impact
Possibility of DOC services being privatized
Not an issue
A minor concern
Neutral
A serious concern
Major impact
More inmates being sent out of state
Not an issue
A minor concern
Neutral
A serious concern
Major impact
Changes in DOC policies toward inmates
Not an issue
A minor concern
Neutral
A serious concern
Major impact
Under staffing
Not an issue
A minor concern
Neutral
A serious concern
Major impact
Possibility of facilities being closed and subsequent ripple effects
Not an issue
A minor concern
Neutral
A serious concern
Major impact
Possibility of private facilities opening
Not an issue
A minor concern
Neutral
A serious concern
Major impact
Changes in policies towards employees
Not an issue
A minor concern
Neutral
A serious concern
Major impact
Management bargaining proposals
Not an issue
A minor concern
Neutral
A serious concern
Major impact
Legislative involvement in DOC
Not an issue
A minor concern
Neutral
A serious concern
Major impact
Comment
*
25.
How well does your employer assist employees with ways of handling job related stress?
(Required.)
Poor
Fair
Satisfactory
Excellent
Comment
*
26.
How do you rate the training you have received as part of your job?
(Required.)
Poor
Fair
Satisfactory
Excellent
Comment
*
27.
How informed are you regarding safety concerns related to your employment? (threats, escalated situations, confrontations)
(Required.)
Poor
Fair
Satisfactory
Excellent
Comment
*
28.
In the last 12 months have you received threats as a result of or related to your employment? If so describe.
(Required.)
Yes
No
Describe:
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29.
Do you feel supported by central office when reporting concerns or situations that make you feel unsafe? If not, please describe a situation which has contributed to your not feeling supported. If so, please describe a situation which has contributed to your feeling supported.
(Required.)
Yes
No
Describe
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30.
Have you ever felt that your fear of a situation was minimized or that you were perceived as incapable of performing the duties of your job because you felt unsafe in particular situations? If so, describe.
(Required.)
Yes
No
Describe:
*
31.
Have you ever been physically assaulted related to your employment? If so, describe.
(Required.)
Yes
No
Describe
*
32.
How aware are you of current policies, training, or practices regarding your safety?
(Required.)
Poor
Fair
Satisfactory
Excellent
Comment
*
33.
Could there be additional policies, training, or practices that would make you feel safer? If so, please describe.
(Required.)
Yes
No
Yes, but not at the expense of fewer front line staff resulting in mandated overtime
Comment
*
34.
Does DOC central office fulfill its responsibility to maintain safe staffing levels at your facility or field office?
(Required.)
Yes
No
Comment
*
35.
How many times have you been mandated to work overtime in the past six months?
(Required.)
0 to 5
6 to 10
10 to 15
Over 15
Exact amount, if known:
*
36.
On average, how much notice are you given before being mandated?
(Required.)
Less than 2 hours
2 to 4 hours
4 to 8 hours
8 to 24 hours
More than 24 hours
Comment
*
37.
Does DOC's current system mandate employees in a fair and equitable way?
(Required.)
Yes
No
Comment
*
38.
Do you think excessive overtime creates unsafe situations at your facility?
(Required.)
YES
NO
Comment
*
39.
DOC central office's policies make employee safety and the threat of assaults from inmates a top priority
(Required.)
Strongly Agree
Somewhat Agree
Neither Agree or Disagree
Somewhat Disagree
Strongly Disagree
Comment
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40.
Unfair or incompetent management contributes to increase threats of assault on corrections officers
(Required.)
Strongly Agree
Somewhat Agree
Neither Agree or Disagree
Somewhat Disagree
Strongly Disagree
Comment
*
41.
Unfair or incompetent management contributes to corrections officer’s misconduct.
(Required.)
Strongly agree
Somewhat agree
Neither agree nor disagree
Somewhat disagree
Strongly disagree
Comment
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42.
The current inmate classification system makes my job more difficult
(Required.)
Strongly agree
Somewhat agree
Neither agree nor disagree
Somewhat disagree
Strongly disagree
Comment
*
43.
Recent changes in the inmate classification system are an improvement and we are moving in positive direction
(Required.)
Strongly agree
Somewhat agree
Neither agree nor disagree
Somewhat disagree
Strongly disagree
Comment
*
44.
I am satisfied with my current work schedule.
(Required.)
Strongly agree
Somewhat agree
Neither agree nor disagree
Somewhat disagree
Strongly disagree
Comment
*
45.
The current system of evaluations for corrections officers is fair.
(Required.)
Strongly agree
Somewhat agree
Neither agree nor disagree
Somewhat disagree
Strongly disagree
Comment
*
46.
I am satisfied with my level of salary and benefits
(Required.)
Strongly agree
Somewhat agree
Neither agree nor disagree
Somewhat disagree
Strongly disagree
Comment
*
47.
I fully understand the written policies and procedures for DOC employees
(Required.)
Strongly agree
Somewhat agree
Neither agree nor disagree
Somewhat disagree
Strongly disagree
Comment
*
48.
I perform my duties in accordance with DOC's mission statement:
"In partnership with the community, we support safe communities by providing leadership in crime prevention, repairing the harm done, addressing the needs of crime victims, ensuring offender accountability for criminal acts, and managing the risk posed by offenders."
(Required.)
Strongly agree
Somewhat agree
Neither agree nor disagree
Somewhat disagree
Strongly disagree
Comment
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49.
DOC central office manages the department in accordance with DOC's mission statement:
"In partnership with the community, we support safe communities by providing leadership in crime prevention, repairing the harm done, addressing the needs of crime victims, ensuring offender accountability for criminal acts, and managing the risk posed by offenders."
(Required.)
Strongly agree
Somewhat agree
Neither agree nor disagree
Somewhat disagree
Strongly disagree
Comment
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50.
Are you motivated to do your job to the best of your abilities?
(Required.)
Yes
No
Comment
*
51.
Since you started in your current position, your motivation and commitment to your job has:
(Required.)
Decreased
Stayed the same
Increased
Comment
52.
I am interested in discussing my concerns and ways to make improvements with:
My elected VSEA Union leaders
VSEA staff
DOC and AHS management, with protections against retaliation
Legislators, with protections against retaliation
My co-workers
Community stakeholders
If interested, please provide contact info (name, email and/or phone)
53.
Additional comments and ideas to make improvements in DOC