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An ordinance amending Title 3 of the Metropolitan Code of Laws to require departments, boards, and commissions of the Metropolitan Government to conduct annual employee surveys.
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WHEREAS, surveys distributed to employees of the Department of Emergency Communications in the summer of 2025 have been insightful to the department, and using this type of survey throughout the Metropolitan Government would provide similar benefits; and
WHEREAS, this survey will help to gather policy input, increase employee engagement, and evaluate employees’ service in the furtherance of the department’s mission.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:
Section 1. That Title 3 of the Metropolitan Code of Laws is hereby amended by adding the following new Chapter 3.62:
Chapter 3.62 - Annual employee surveys
3.62.010 - Surveys regarding departments, boards, and commissions
A. The department of human resources shall fund and facilitate the provision of annual surveys to the employees of departments and boards and commissions established by the Metropolitan Charter or ordinance to assess:
1. Leadership and management practices that contribute to the performance of the department, board, or commission; and
2. Employee satisfaction with:
a. leadership policies and practices;
b. workplace culture;
c. communication from peers and leadership within the department;
d. individual and workplace morale;
e. opportunity for professional development and growth; and
f. opportunity to contribute to achieving the goals of the department, board, or commission.
B. The annual surveys shall be administered by a third party outside of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County.
C. The department of human resources shall notify the metropolitan council when these annual surveys are submitted to employees.
D. The department of human resources shall provide an annual report regarding the results of these surveys to the mayor, the metropolitan council, and the relevant department director or the board or commission, as applicable. The report shall include the completion rate of the employee surveys.
E. The provisions of this section are intended to supplement and not conflict with the work of the civil service commission, as provided in article 12 of the Metropolitan Charter.
Section 2. The Metropolitan Council requests that the surveys be anonymous and confidential, distributed annually to be completed between March 15 and March 31 of a calendar year, distributed via email with an option to be completed outside of the workplace, provided to the mayor, the director of the department of human resources, the relevant department director, or the board or commission, as applicable, and made available to the metropolitan council upon request.
Section 3. This Ordinance shall take effect from and after its adoption, the welfare of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.
Agenda Analysis
Analysis
This ordinance amends Title 3 of the Metropolitan Code of Laws to require departments, boards, and commissions of the Metropolitan Government to conduct annual employee surveys.
The ordinance requires the Department of Human Resources to fund and facilitate the provision of annual surveys to the employees of departments and boards and commissions established by the Metropolitan Charter or ordinance. The surveys would assess leadership and management practices along with employee satisfaction with leadership policies and practices, workplace culture, communications from peers and leadership within the department, individual and workplace morale, opportunities for professional development and growth, and opportunities to contribute to achieving the goals of the department, board, or commission.
The ordinance would require that these surveys be administered by a third party outside of the Metropolitan Government. The Department of Human Resources would be required to notify the Metropolitan Council when these annual surveys are submitted to employees and provide an annual report regarding the results of these surveys to the Mayor, the Metropolitan Council, and the relevant department director or the board or commission, as applicable. The report would include the completion rate of the employee surveys.
This ordinance separately requests that the surveys be anonymous and confidential, distributed annually to be completed between March 15 and March 31 of a calendar year, distributed via email with an option to be completed outside of the workplace, provided to the Mayor, the director of the Department of Human Resources, the relevant department director, or the board or commission, as applicable, and made available to the Metropolitan Council upon request.
This ordinance states that it is intended to supplement and not conflict with the work of the Civil Service Commission, as provided in Article 12 of the Metropolitan Charter. However, this legislation does not align with that section of the Charter.
Article 12.06 of the Charter states that the director of personnel must recommend a set of rules that he or she considers necessary to carry out the Charter. The Civil Service Commission may then approve, reject, or amend these rules after holding a public hearing.
Article 12.07 of the Charter states that: “The rules of the commission shall provide for the efficient organization and administration of employment and regulatory practices by the metropolitan government calculated to preserve the rights of employees and enhance public confidence in a merit system.”