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2004 Checkpoint and Upward Appraisal surveys are due Aug. 13

University of California full-time and part-time Laboratory employees have until Aug. 13 to complete and return their 2004 Checkpoint and Upward Appraisal surveys. The surveys were mailed to UC Lab employees at their mail stops.

Some 8,682 full-time and part-time UC Lab employees, including regular, postdoctoral and limited-term employees received the surveys. UC Lab employees should complete the surveys with a number two pencil or in black or blue ink and should not bend or staple the surveys because they will be scored electronically.

The surveys provide an opportunity for employees to anonymously make their opinions known to managers and Lab leaders on a range of topics.

This year's Checkpoint Survey has 52 questions addressing issues such as career development, communication, diversity, job satisfaction, management, pay, performance management, productivity, and safety and security.

According to Information Technology Data Analysis (HR-ITDA), in the past, employees used a comment page to bring management's attention to constructive suggestions on specific issues, said John Pantano of HR-ITDA.

The Upward Appraisal Survey consists of 20 questions related to management behavior in areas such as communication skills, trustworthiness, accountability, decision-making ability and fairness toward employees. Employees may complete the 20 question set for a "direct" supervisor (e.g., team leader), a "skip" level supervisor (e.g., group leader) and an "other" supervisor, such as a division leader.

"Managers have found the Checkpoint Survey useful in identifying and addressing areas of concern to employees," said Pantano. In past years, both Laboratory and division-level results have been used by Lab managers to address issues of concern to employees, such as communication, diversity and professional development, he said.

Pantano noted that HR-ITDA is available to work with managers individually to interpret their survey results and to develop strategies to address issues identified through the survey results.

Results from either survey are released only at the level at which the confidentiality and anonymity of the respondents is assured. Pantano said HR-ITDA provides findings and comments to teams or groups that have five respondents or more. Division tallies will include results regardless of whether they are reported at the team or at the group level. One week before the survey results are finalized, a reminder will be issued informing employees of division response rates. Survey results for an organization will not be reported if there are fewer than five respondents from that organization.

The Human Resources (HR) Division administered the surveys 10 of the last 11 years (all but in 2000) and the response rate has been approximately 50 percent, said Pantano. HR-ITDA will compare findings from this year's surveys to those from past years to discern trends.

For questions about the surveys write to Checkpoint@lanl.gov by electronic mail, or call the survey team at 5-1423.

--Steve Sandoval and Kathryn Ostic

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