The Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) is responsible for conserving native fish and wildlife and their habitat. DFW's activities also support sustainable fishing, hunting and other outdoor recreational opportunities for Washington residents and visitors.
The Office of the Washington State Auditor initiated this audit in response to concerns voiced by legislators and other stakeholders. Their concerns included:
- Past incidents of sexual harassment
- Inconsistencies in the way DFW resolved employee complaints
- Practices related to diversity, equity and inclusion.
- Taken together, these concerns suggested problems might exist within DFW’s workplace culture.
This audit sought to understand the agency's current workplace culture and the issues that informed staff opinions. It also looked for ways agency leaders can promote a more respectful and productive workplace to enable DFW to better serve the public.
It found employee concerns about sexual harassment much less prevalent than concerns about other issues of poor workplace behavior. Although the agency has made strides in improving workplace culture, the audit found leadership could do more to ensure those improvements work.
Read a summary of the report.