Intellectual Property Law

U.S. Spies Disgruntled with Superiors, Have Doldrums

By Ryan Singel, Kevin Poulsen, Sarah Lai Stirland, Kim Zetter, and David Kravets

The bad news is that less than a majority of the nation's spies are satisfied with the "policies and practices" of their senior leaders.

The good news is nation's spies feel a tad better about their superiors than rank-and-file federal workers, according to a study released Tuesday by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

In short, the Intelligence Community Employee Climate Survey for 2007 found 47 percent of the nation's spies are satisfied with their superiors. That's a 1 percent increase from the previous year. The report said 41 percent of employees outside the non-intelligence gathering agencies felt similarly.

Also, about 45 percent of intelligence employees responded that their "leaders generate high levels of motivation and commitment in the workforce," a 2 percent increase over last year. That compares to 38 percent of rank-and-file, non-intelligence workers who felt the same toward their bosses.

Workers in both the intelligence and non-intelligence sectors also appeared to be having the doldrums. About 46 percent of the spying community was satisfied with opportunities "to get a better job in your organization." Thirty-seven percent of the rank-and-file federal workforce had the same feeling, according to the study.

Still, more than 80 percent of employees from both sectors said they liked the work they did, thought it was important and had the support of supervisors to balance work and family issues.

See Also:

• Can the NSA Wiretap in Iraq Without A Warrant?
• Secret Spy Ruling Contaminates Debate
• DHS Doesn't Want to Monitor Net, Chertoff Tells Bloggers

Full post as published by Threat Level on March 25, 2008 (boomark / email).