POST FALLS - Post Falls city employees are mostly pleased about their workplace, but also offered input on how it can be improved in a newly-released survey.

"This was one of the most positive outcomes I've seen," said Wade Larson of Hayden's LMM Leadership Group, which conducted the survey. "Compared to other surveys, it's not troubling by any stretch of the imagination."

One hundred thirty-three employees out of 146 participated in the survey, a response Larson called "incredible."

"If I get a 50 percent response, I'm ecstatic," he said. "Seventy-five percent just doesn't happen, but here you have nearly 100 percent."

The reasons behind the outstanding response rate can be difficult to read into, he said.

"Employees may have a lot to say and, in some cases, that can be therapeutic," Larson said.

They also may believe their input will be taken seriously to improve the workplace, said Teresa Benner, the city's human resources director. Further, Post Falls' last employee survey was six years ago, so perhaps staff welcomed the opportunity to offer input.

"Our employees are interested in improving their skills and providing better service to our citizens," said Benner, referring to her thoughts about the response.

Seventy-five percent rated the culture of the workplace high and only 5 percent rated it low.

"Post Falls is a great place to work," Larson said of the data. "The 5 percent (who rated it low) is very small for an organization."

Two-thirds of the employees are satisfied with the city's benefits package.

Benefits include health and dental insurance, a free employee assistance program, a free $25,000 life insurance policy, wellness program and a retirement system that includes both a base and 401(k) plan and disability and death benefits.

Mayor Clay Larkin said he was surprised that a third of the employees are not satisfied with the benefits.

Larson called Post Falls' benefits package "rich and generous."

He said longtime employees have seen some of their benefits being "chiseled" away with higher premiums in recent years, so that may be behind the negative responses. But he said that's a trend all around and, compared to the private sector and for relatively new employees, the benefits are strong.

"You only have so much money," Larson told the City Council and city administration. "Employers have had to deal with increases in health care costs."

Benner said the city plans to do a separate wage survey in the future.

Only a third of the employees said their workplace offers sufficient opportunities for career advancement, but Larson said that's not a surprise.

"People stay here for a long time, so the opportunities to advance don't happen as often," he said. "When people come here, they stay here."

Thirty-eight percent of the respondents said they plan to look for another job in the next six months to a year. Larson said nationally that number is 60 to 70 percent.

The survey indicated that most of the employees are satisfied with their job, but communication from supervisors could be improved.

Benner said many employees would like more training opportunities, which is reflective of informal input prior to the survey.

Recommendations from the survey include finding more ways for employees to offer input, holding open forums to discuss concerns and share information, improving communication within the staff, establishing an employee recognition program and repeating the survey in a year to 18 months.

City administrator Shelly Enderud said she's pleased with the survey's results, which give the city an outline of what needs improved.

"Initially, I feel very optimistic to see that this survey came in with better results than other surveys performed by (LMM)," she said. "Many of the areas of concern or trouble areas are areas that staff has been working to improve over the past several years.

"This survey helps us with data to support the justification for implementing changes in these areas and hopefully opens up an open dialogue with employees about why these areas are of concern."

LMM Leadership Group performed the survey as a third-party administrator for $2,000. The service includes support for the next year as the city revamps its performance management program.

Council member Joe Malloy said he believes the survey was a good deal.

"I thought it was a good use of funds so as long as we follow up on it," he said. "I think that the vast majority of the city employees work hard and deserve what they earn, but there's always ways we can improve."