2017 Public Service Employee Annual Survey Results for Employment and Social Development Canada by Question 33. Are you a member of a visible minority group?

The results of the 2017 Public Service Employee Annual Survey (PSEAS) are presented according to the numerical order of questions, grouped by section theme as they appeared in the questionnaire. Results are not shown when there is no historical comparison, or when there is an insufficient number of responses.

Note: Due to rounding, percentages may not add to 100. Results have been adjusted for non-response to better represent the target population. Therefore, percentages should not be used to determine the number of respondents within a response category.

Survey Themes

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My Workplace

Question 1. My department or agency implements activities and practices that support a diverse workplace.

Survey year Demographic Strongly agree
(%)
Somewhat agree
(%)
Neither agree nor disagree
(%)
Somewhat disagree
(%)
Strongly disagree
(%)
Don't know
(%)
Not applicable
(%)
Positive answers
(%)
Negative answers
(%)
Total responses
2017 Visible minority 40 36 9 7 5 2 0 78 13 2328
2017 Non-visible minority 47 35 9 4 2 3 0 85 7 9616
2014 Visible minority 36 33 15 6 6 4 0 73 12 2674
2014 Non-visible minority 40 35 14 3 2 5 1 80 6 12443

Question 2. Overall, my department or agency treats me with respect.

Survey year Demographic Strongly agree
(%)
Somewhat agree
(%)
Neither agree nor disagree
(%)
Somewhat disagree
(%)
Strongly disagree
(%)
Don't know
(%)
Not applicable
(%)
Positive answers
(%)
Negative answers
(%)
Total responses
2017 Visible minority 41 37 9 7 6 0 0 78 13 2317
2017 Non-visible minority 38 40 9 8 5 0 0 79 12 9583
2014 Visible minority 42 37 12 5 4 1 0 80 9 2676
2014 Non-visible minority 41 39 10 6 3 0 0 80 9 12443
2011 Visible minority 35 38 14 6 5 1 0 74 12 2469
2011 Non-visible minority 33 40 13 7 6 0 0 74 13 14232
2008 Visible minority 29 40 15 8 7 1 0 70 15 1733
2008 Non-visible minority 29 42 14 9 6 1 0 71 15 12881

Question 3. I am encouraged to be innovative or to take initiative in my work.

Survey year Demographic Strongly agree
(%)
Somewhat agree
(%)
Neither agree nor disagree
(%)
Somewhat disagree
(%)
Strongly disagree
(%)
Don't know
(%)
Not applicable
(%)
Positive answers
(%)
Negative answers
(%)
Total responses
2017 Visible minority 27 33 16 12 10 0 1 61 23 2322
2017 Non-visible minority 28 37 15 12 7 0 0 66 19 9590
2014 Visible minority 21 34 20 12 12 0 1 56 24 2676
2014 Non-visible minority 23 34 18 14 11 0 0 57 25 12456

Question 4. I believe I would be supported if I proposed a new idea, even though it might not work.

Survey year Demographic Strongly agree
(%)
Somewhat agree
(%)
Neither agree nor disagree
(%)
Somewhat disagree
(%)
Strongly disagree
(%)
Don't know
(%)
Not applicable
(%)
Positive answers
(%)
Negative answers
(%)
Total responses
2017 Visible minority 20 34 20 14 11 2 1 55 25 2315
2017 Non-visible minority 21 38 16 14 9 1 0 60 24 9601

Question 5. I have support at work to balance my work and personal life.

Survey year Demographic Strongly agree
(%)
Somewhat agree
(%)
Neither agree nor disagree
(%)
Somewhat disagree
(%)
Strongly disagree
(%)
Don't know
(%)
Not applicable
(%)
Positive answers
(%)
Negative answers
(%)
Total responses
2017 Visible minority 33 34 14 9 8 0 1 68 17 2321
2017 Non-visible minority 35 35 12 9 7 0 1 71 17 9603
2014 Visible minority 31 35 16 10 8 0 1 67 18 2677
2014 Non-visible minority 33 34 13 10 8 0 1 69 18 12446
2011 Visible minority 34 35 12 10 7 1 1 71 17 2473
2011 Non-visible minority 35 37 12 9 6 0 1 73 16 14274

Question 6. I am satisfied with my department or agency.

Survey year Demographic Strongly agree
(%)
Somewhat agree
(%)
Neither agree nor disagree
(%)
Somewhat disagree
(%)
Strongly disagree
(%)
Don't know
(%)
Not applicable
(%)
Positive answers
(%)
Negative answers
(%)
Total responses
2017 Visible minority 28 35 16 12 9 0 0 63 21 2316
2017 Non-visible minority 27 40 14 11 7 0 0 67 19 9602
2014 Visible minority 23 36 20 12 8 1 0 60 20 2677
2014 Non-visible minority 22 38 19 13 8 0 0 60 21 12450
2011 Visible minority 23 35 20 11 9 1 0 59 20 2468
2011 Non-visible minority 21 37 19 13 9 1 0 59 23 14235
2008 Visible minority 22 40 18 12 8 1 0 62 20 1727
2008 Non-visible minority 23 40 16 14 7 0 0 63 21 12880

Question 7. Overall, I like my job.

Survey year Demographic Strongly agree
(%)
Somewhat agree
(%)
Neither agree nor disagree
(%)
Somewhat disagree
(%)
Strongly disagree
(%)
Don't know
(%)
Not applicable
(%)
Positive answers
(%)
Negative answers
(%)
Total responses
2017 Visible minority 37 39 13 7 5 0 0 76 12 2319
2017 Non-visible minority 37 42 10 7 4 0 0 78 11 9611
2014 Visible minority 34 42 13 5 5 0 0 76 10 2673
2014 Non-visible minority 34 41 13 7 5 0 0 76 12 12446
2011 Visible minority 35 38 14 7 6 0 0 73 13 2473
2011 Non-visible minority 36 42 10 7 4 0 0 78 12 14279
2008 Visible minority 32 44 11 8 5 0 0 77 12 1735
2008 Non-visible minority 38 42 9 7 3 0 0 80 11 12897
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Workplace Well-Being

Question 8. My immediate supervisor creates an environment where I feel free to discuss with him or her matters that affect my well-being at work.

Survey year Demographic Strongly agree
(%)
Somewhat agree
(%)
Neither agree nor disagree
(%)
Somewhat disagree
(%)
Strongly disagree
(%)
Don't know
(%)
Not applicable
(%)
Positive answers
(%)
Negative answers
(%)
Total responses
2017 Visible minority 49 29 9 6 6 0 0 78 12 2327
2017 Non-visible minority 53 28 7 7 5 0 0 81 12 9622

Question 9. My immediate supervisor seems to care about me as a person.

Survey year Demographic Strongly agree
(%)
Somewhat agree
(%)
Neither agree nor disagree
(%)
Somewhat disagree
(%)
Strongly disagree
(%)
Don't know
(%)
Not applicable
(%)
Positive answers
(%)
Negative answers
(%)
Total responses
2017 Visible minority 49 28 10 6 6 1 0 78 12 2319
2017 Non-visible minority 53 27 9 5 4 1 0 81 10 9606

Question 10. I would describe my workplace as being psychologically healthy.

Survey year Demographic Strongly agree
(%)
Somewhat agree
(%)
Neither agree nor disagree
(%)
Somewhat disagree
(%)
Strongly disagree
(%)
Don't know
(%)
Not applicable
(%)
Positive answers
(%)
Negative answers
(%)
Total responses
2017 Visible minority 26 33 14 14 13 0 0 59 26 2324
2017 Non-visible minority 26 34 13 14 12 0 0 61 26 9613

Question 11. My department or agency does a good job of raising awareness of mental health in the workplace.

Survey year Demographic Strongly agree
(%)
Somewhat agree
(%)
Neither agree nor disagree
(%)
Somewhat disagree
(%)
Strongly disagree
(%)
Don't know
(%)
Not applicable
(%)
Positive answers
(%)
Negative answers
(%)
Total responses
2017 Visible minority 30 34 17 9 8 1 0 66 17 2319
2017 Non-visible minority 32 36 16 8 6 1 0 69 15 9601

Question 12. Overall, my level of work-related stress is…

Survey year Demographic Very low
(%)
Low
(%)
Moderate
(%)
High
(%)
Very High
(%)
Don't know
(%)
Not applicable
(%)
Positive answers
(%)
Negative answers
(%)
Total responses
2017 Visible minority 7 19 40 22 12 1 0 26 34 2307
2017 Non-visible minority 5 20 41 23 11 0 0 25 34 9520

Question 13. After my workday, I feel emotionally drained.

Survey year Demographic Always/ Almost always
(%)
Often
(%)
Sometimes
(%)
Rarely
(%)
Never/ Almost never
(%)
Don't know
(%)
Not applicable
(%)
Positive answers
(%)
Negative answers
(%)
Total responses
2017 Visible minority 13 21 41 17 7 0 1 24 35 2295
2017 Non-visible minority 12 24 39 17 7 0 0 25 36 9513
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Harassment

Harassment is normally a series of incidents, but it can be one severe incident that has a lasting impact on the individual.
Harassment is any improper conduct by an individual that is directed at and offensive to another individual in the workplace, including at any event or any location related to work, and that the individual knew or ought reasonably to have known would cause offence or harm. It comprises objectionable act(s), comment(s) or display(s) that demean, belittle, or cause personal humiliation or embarrassment, and any act of intimidation or threat. It also includes harassment within the meaning of the Canadian Human Rights Act (i.e., based on race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, family status, disability, and pardoned conviction or suspended record).

Question 14. Having carefully read the definition of harassment, have you been the victim of harassment on the job in the past two years?

Survey year Demographic Yes
(%)
No
(%)
Total responses
2017 Visible minority 22 78 2312
2017 Non-visible minority 20 80 9551
2014 Visible minority 19 81 2672
2014 Non-visible minority 16 84 12438

Question 15a. From whom did you experience harassment on the job? Co-workers

Survey year Demographic  
(%)
Total responses
2017 Visible minority 51 515
2017 Non-visible minority 48 1915
2014 Visible minority 51 494
2014 Non-visible minority 50 2035

Question 15b. From whom did you experience harassment on the job? Individuals with authority over me

Survey year Demographic  
(%)
Total responses
2017 Visible minority 62 515
2017 Non-visible minority 61 1915
2014 Visible minority 65 494
2014 Non-visible minority 60 2035

Question 15c. From whom did you experience harassment on the job? Individuals working for me

Survey year Demographic  
(%)
Total responses
2017 Visible minority 7 515
2017 Non-visible minority 6 1915
2014 Visible minority 7 494
2014 Non-visible minority 6 2035

Question 15d. From whom did you experience harassment on the job? Individuals for whom I have a custodial responsibility (e.g., inmates, offenders, patients, detainees)

Survey year Demographic  
(%)
Total responses
2017 Visible minority 0 515

Question 15e. From whom did you experience harassment on the job? Individuals from other departments or agencies

Survey year Demographic  
(%)
Total responses
2017 Visible minority 5 515
2017 Non-visible minority 3 1915
2014 Visible minority 2 494
2014 Non-visible minority 3 2035

Question 15f. From whom did you experience harassment on the job? Members of the public (individuals or organizations)

Survey year Demographic  
(%)
Total responses
2017 Visible minority 20 515
2017 Non-visible minority 16 1915
2014 Visible minority 16 494
2014 Non-visible minority 13 2035

Question 15g. From whom did you experience harassment on the job? Other

Survey year Demographic  
(%)
Total responses
2017 Visible minority 3 515
2017 Non-visible minority 3 1915
2014 Visible minority 5 494
2014 Non-visible minority 4 2035
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Discrimination

Discrimination means treating someone differently or unfairly because of a personal characteristic or distinction, which, whether intentional or not, has an effect that imposes disadvantages not imposed on others, or that withholds or limits access that is given to others. There are 11 prohibited grounds of discrimination under the Canadian Human Rights Act: race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, family status, disability, and pardoned conviction or suspended record.

Question 16. Having carefully read the definition of discrimination, have you been the victim of discrimination on the job in the past two years?

Survey year Demographic Yes
(%)
No
(%)
Total responses
2017 Visible minority 20 80 2321
2017 Non-visible minority 10 90 9594
2014 Visible minority 13 87 2669
2014 Non-visible minority 6 94 12436

Question 17a. From whom did you experience discrimination on the job? Co-workers

Survey year Demographic  
(%)
Total responses
2017 Visible minority 36 465
2017 Non-visible minority 32 988
2014 Visible minority 44 338
2014 Non-visible minority 32 794

Question 17b. From whom did you experience discrimination on the job? Individuals with authority over me

Survey year Demographic  
(%)
Total responses
2017 Visible minority 72 466
2017 Non-visible minority 79 988
2014 Visible minority 78 338
2014 Non-visible minority 81 794

Question 17c. From whom did you experience discrimination on the job? Individuals working for me

Survey year Demographic  
(%)
Total responses
2017 Visible minority 4 465
2017 Non-visible minority 2 988
2014 Visible minority 4 338
2014 Non-visible minority 2 794

Question 17e. From whom did you experience discrimination on the job? Individuals from other departments or agencies

Survey year Demographic  
(%)
Total responses
2017 Visible minority 6 465
2017 Non-visible minority 5 988
2014 Visible minority 6 338
2014 Non-visible minority 5 794

Question 17f. From whom did you experience discrimination on the job? Members of the public (individuals or organizations)

Survey year Demographic  
(%)
Total responses
2017 Visible minority 21 465
2017 Non-visible minority 11 988
2014 Visible minority 18 338
2014 Non-visible minority 9 794

Question 17g. From whom did you experience discrimination on the job? Other

Survey year Demographic  
(%)
Total responses
2017 Visible minority 8 465
2017 Non-visible minority 7 989
2014 Visible minority 8 338
2014 Non-visible minority 10 794