Overview
Title
OSC Annual Survey
Agencies
ELI5 AI
The OSC makes a yearly survey to ask people who asked for their help if they are happy with it, and now they want to change the survey just a tiny bit and see what people think. They want everyone to share their thoughts on the new version before March 8, 2021.
Summary AI
The U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) is seeking approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to use a slightly revised version of its annual survey. The survey is conducted to gather feedback from individuals who have sought assistance from OSC, such as filing complaints or seeking advisory opinions. It consists of four electronic questionnaires, each with five to ten questions, aimed at determining if individuals feel informed about their rights, successful at resolving issues, and satisfied with OSC's help. The OSC invites public comments on the survey's effectiveness and the potential burden on respondents by March 8, 2021.
Abstract
The U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC), seeks approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for use of a modified survey that differs only slightly from the most recently approved information collection, OSC's 2020 Annual Survey. By statute, OSC must conduct an annual survey to collect feedback from those who have contacted OSC for assistance, either by filing complaints and/or disclosures with OSC, or by seeking Hatch Act Advisory Opinions. This OSC annual survey consists of four electronic questionnaires (one for each type of assistance an individual can seek from OSC), each asking between five and ten questions. OSC invites comments on: (a) The accuracy of OSC's estimate of the burden of the proposed collections of information; (b) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (c) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents.
Keywords AI
Sources
AnalysisAI
The document under review is a notice from the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC), informing the public about a proposed modification to their annual survey. The survey aims to collect feedback from individuals who have sought assistance from OSC, such as those filing complaints or seeking advisory opinions related to federal employment issues. Conducted according to statutory requirements, the survey comprises four electronic questionnaires, each containing five to ten questions. The OSC invites public comments on the effectiveness of the survey and its potential burden on respondents, with a deadline for comments set for March 8, 2021.
General Summary
The OSC's annual survey is a critical component for assessing its performance in providing assistance to federal employees and other stakeholders. This document alerts the public to a slightly revised survey from the previous year's version and seeks approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The main objectives of the survey are to determine whether individuals feel informed about their rights, successful in resolving issues with the OSC or the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), and satisfied with the treatment they received. The notice also provides the logistical details for public comments and additional contact information for those seeking more insights.
Significant Issues or Concerns
Several issues emerge from the document that may raise concern:
Adequate Time for Response: The estimated time for survey completion, noted as 5.3 minutes, might be inadequate for respondents to provide thoughtful feedback, especially on nuanced matters like satisfaction and understanding of legal rights.
Lack of Detail in Modifications: The document does not specify what minor changes have been made to the survey compared to its last iteration, which could lead to confusion or misinterpretation among stakeholders trying to assess its impact.
Data Utilization Transparency: There is a lack of clarity concerning how the OSC intends to use the data collected from the survey to enhance its services or practices, potentially reducing the survey's perceived utility and effectiveness.
Complex Language: Parts of the document use complex legal jargon, such as the reference to statutory authority, which may not be easily understood by the general public, impeding meaningful feedback from all potential respondents.
Sampling Method Clarity: The document does not clarify how respondents are selected, raising questions about the representativeness and comprehensiveness of the survey sample.
Vague Language on Burden Minimization: The document mentions efforts to minimize respondent burden without explaining how this will be achieved, underscoring a lack of concrete strategies.
Impact on the Public
The modified survey by OSC is an essential platform for the public, particularly federal employees, to provide feedback on OSC's work related to federal employment matters. By streamlining the survey process, OSC could potentially offer enhanced services that align more closely with stakeholders' needs. However, the perceived inefficacy due to a short response time and lack of transparency might dampen public engagement or trust.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
For federal employees who frequently interact with OSC, the survey can be a valuable tool for voicing experiences and concerns. Positive feedback could affirm OSC's current practices, while negative feedback, if reflected upon and acted upon, could drive significant improvements. However, unclear modifications and sampling methods might limit some stakeholders' ability to assess the survey's relevance or fairness fully. Furthermore, legal professionals assisting individuals with OSC-related matters might find the lack of detailed changes and utilization strategies a barrier when advising clients.
Overall, while the document serves a vital purpose in soliciting feedback, the identified issues could undermine its potential effectiveness and impact, calling for greater detail and clarity in future communications.
Issues
• The estimated average amount of time for a person to respond to the survey is 5.3 minutes, which may not be sufficient to gather meaningful feedback, especially if the survey aims to assess satisfaction and understanding of rights.
• The notice does not provide specific details on the slight modifications made to the survey from the previous version, which could lead to ambiguity for stakeholders assessing the impact of the changes.
• The document lacks detailed information on how the OSC plans to utilize the collected data from the survey for improvements, leading to a potential lack of transparency.
• The language used in some sections, such as 'OSC's basic authorities come from four federal statutes,' could be overly complex or difficult for a layperson to fully understand without additional context or simplification.
• There is a potential concern regarding the sampling method and whether it adequately represents all individuals who interacted with OSC, as the document does not specify how respondents are chosen.
• The phrase 'minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents' is vague without specific strategies or measures being outlined.