A Nuclear Regulatory Commission survey made public following congressional testimony last week suggests that some NRC employees fear formal objections to agency policies will result in retaliation.
Government Executive magazine reported that a survey found 75 percent of participants who submitted objections to policy or technical decisions through the agency's "non-concurrence process" received negative performance reviews afterward. The NRC Office of Enforcement, which conducted the survey last year, suggested that the NRC's inspector general's office had substantiated multiple employee claims to that end. Additionally, 63 percent felt excluded from work activities and a quarter believed they missed opportunities for promotions because they registered their disagreement with policies under consideration.
The survey was among several issues raised by Democratic Sen. Edward Markey as he and other senators questioned NRC leadership during a hearing Wednesday. In an interview with the Associated Press Friday, NRC Chairwoman Allison Macfarlane said the survey included only 24 employees. Nonetheless, she pledged to study the issue further and said that she wants to ensure employees feel free to debate policies within the agency.