Judiciary employee survey shows general job happiness, but a reluctance to report workplace misconduct

Fewer than half of employees of the federal judiciary believe court workers are willing to report instances of workplace misconduct, according to results of a long-awaited survey conducted by the judicial branch.

Fewer than half of employees of the federal judiciary believe court workers are willing to report instances of workplace misconduct, according to results of a long-awaited survey conducted by the judicial branch. The judges who spearheaded the review said, in a press call shortly after the report was released, the judiciary branch compared “favorably” to the other two branches of the US government when it comes to employees’ workplace happiness, with 84% reporting that they were satisfied or very satisfied with their jobs. Still, judiciary leaders concede that more has to be done to encourage workers to report any professional misconduct that they’re subjected to. The survey, released Monday and conducted by Federal Judicial Center researchers, was part of a larger effort launched by Chief Justice John Roberts in 2018, at the height of the #MeToo movement, to address harassment, abuse and other misconduct judicial employees suffered in their jobs – including harassment they received from judges. With their lifetime appointments, judges wield – at times – seemingly untouchable power within their chambers, and some have retired rather than face scrutiny of allegations brought against them. The survey was sent to all employees of the federal judiciary in January 2023, and 13,895 employees responded, according to the report. Monday’s report said that, out of the 272 survey takers who reported discriminatory harassment, 63 said that harassment came from judges. Judges were behind 166 instances of abusive conduct reported by 900 survey-takers, according to the report. And 49 of the 290 respondents who said they were subjected to employment discrimination said it came from a judge.