2017 Public Service Employee Annual Survey Results for Health Canada by Question 19. What is your current employee status?

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 Indeterminate (permanent) 45 36 9 4 3 3 0 84 7 4742
2017 Term 53 25 11 2 2 5 1 83 5 245
2017 Casual 52 28 7 4 3 6 0 85 7 93
2017 Student 52 28 11 2 2 5 0 84 3 61
2014 Indeterminate (permanent) 43 36 12 3 2 4 0 82 5 6113
2014 Term 52 30 9 2 2 3 1 86 5 377
2014 Casual 55 24 13 1 1 5 1 84 3 65
2014 Student 64 23 4 3 0 6 0 93 3 70

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 Indeterminate (permanent) 36 40 9 9 6 0 0 76 15 4733
2017 Term 55 30 7 4 3 0 0 86 7 246
2017 Casual 61 23 8 3 3 0 1 85 6 93
2017 Student 62 20 11 5 2 0 0 82 7 61
2014 Indeterminate (permanent) 43 38 10 5 3 0 0 82 9 6115
2014 Term 59 29 5 4 2 0 0 89 6 377
2014 Casual 71 22 2 3 1 0 0 93 4 65
2014 Student 69 21 0 7 3 0 0 90 10 70
2011 Indeterminate (permanent) 39 38 12 6 4 1 0 77 11 6807
2011 Term 56 32 5 3 5 0 0 87 8 319
2011 Casual 67 23 6 3 1 0 0 90 4 68
2011 Student 73 20 5 0 3 0 0 93 3 40
2008 Indeterminate (permanent) 36 39 12 7 5 1 0 76 12 6165
2008 Term 51 33 9 4 2 1 0 85 6 402
2008 Casual 53 28 7 9 0 2 1 84 9 129
2008 Student 65 24 6 1 3 1 0 90 4 72

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 Indeterminate (permanent) 30 36 14 12 8 0 0 66 20 4725
2017 Term 37 36 13 7 5 0 1 75 12 244
2017 Casual 39 34 12 7 6 1 1 75 13 93
2017 Student 46 31 13 10 0 0 0 77 10 61
2014 Indeterminate (permanent) 28 37 15 12 8 0 0 65 20 6119
2014 Term 35 37 15 7 5 0 0 73 13 376
2014 Casual 40 35 12 7 7 0 0 75 13 65
2014 Student 45 25 16 4 5 2 2 74 9 70

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 Indeterminate (permanent) 22 36 16 14 10 1 0 59 24 4724
2017 Term 30 37 17 6 6 2 1 69 13 245
2017 Casual 32 37 11 14 4 0 2 70 18 93
2017 Student 44 32 14 8 2 0 0 76 10 59

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 Indeterminate (permanent) 37 35 10 10 8 0 0 72 17 4732
2017 Term 46 32 11 5 5 0 1 79 10 244
2017 Casual 48 25 13 10 2 1 1 74 12 93
2017 Student 54 33 2 10 0 2 0 88 10 61
2014 Indeterminate (permanent) 37 35 11 9 7 0 0 73 16 6112
2014 Term 48 32 10 6 3 0 1 81 9 377
2014 Casual 47 26 18 3 4 0 1 74 7 65
2014 Student 46 33 17 3 0 1 1 80 3 70
2011 Indeterminate (permanent) 42 35 9 8 5 0 0 77 13 6824
2011 Term 51 26 10 8 4 1 0 78 12 318
2011 Casual 44 36 4 8 4 1 2 83 13 67
2011 Student 49 38 3 0 0 2 7 97 0 40

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 Indeterminate (permanent) 26 41 14 11 9 0 0 67 19 4736
2017 Term 38 40 12 4 5 1 0 79 9 242
2017 Casual 52 30 6 7 5 0 0 82 12 93
2017 Student 48 33 12 3 3 0 0 82 7 60
2014 Indeterminate (permanent) 25 39 17 12 7 0 0 64 19 6117
2014 Term 40 34 13 8 6 0 0 74 13 376
2014 Casual 44 41 7 6 2 1 0 85 7 64
2014 Student 56 32 4 5 3 0 0 88 8 70
2011 Indeterminate (permanent) 28 38 17 11 6 0 0 66 17 6814
2011 Term 41 41 8 4 6 0 0 81 11 319
2011 Casual 47 35 11 1 6 0 0 82 7 68
2011 Student 63 25 7 2 3 0 0 88 5 40
2008 Indeterminate (permanent) 29 40 14 11 6 0 0 69 17 6161
2008 Term 44 35 11 6 3 0 0 79 10 402
2008 Casual 35 37 14 9 4 1 1 73 13 129
2008 Student 52 36 4 4 2 1 0 90 6 72

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 Indeterminate (permanent) 37 41 10 8 5 0 0 78 12 4739
2017 Term 49 37 8 4 2 0 0 86 6 244
2017 Casual 66 15 11 5 1 1 1 83 6 93
2017 Student 49 33 7 8 3 0 0 82 11 61
2014 Indeterminate (permanent) 37 40 11 7 4 0 0 78 11 6114
2014 Term 47 38 9 4 2 0 0 85 6 377
2014 Casual 67 21 6 5 0 0 0 88 5 65
2014 Student 50 34 8 5 3 0 0 84 8 70
2011 Indeterminate (permanent) 40 41 10 6 3 0 0 81 9 6823
2011 Term 49 38 5 4 3 0 0 87 7 319
2011 Casual 48 39 7 3 3 0 0 86 6 66
2011 Student 55 35 5 5 0 0 0 90 5 40
2008 Indeterminate (permanent) 42 40 8 7 3 0 0 83 9 6170
2008 Term 50 37 5 6 3 0 0 87 8 401
2008 Casual 48 36 11 3 2 0 0 84 5 129
2008 Student 43 37 14 5 1 0 0 80 6 73
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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 Indeterminate (permanent) 53 25 7 7 7 0 0 78 15 4745
2017 Term 58 21 8 3 9 0 0 80 12 245
2017 Casual 68 13 8 3 7 1 1 82 9 93
2017 Student 61 26 0 7 5 2 0 88 12 61

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 Indeterminate (permanent) 54 23 9 6 7 1 0 78 13 4738
2017 Term 60 22 7 4 8 0 0 81 11 245
2017 Casual 65 14 9 5 5 1 1 81 10 93
2017 Student 66 20 7 3 5 0 0 85 8 61

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 Indeterminate (permanent) 26 34 13 14 13 0 0 60 27 4740
2017 Term 36 36 13 8 8 0 0 72 16 244
2017 Casual 50 27 8 5 8 1 0 78 14 93
2017 Student 51 28 8 8 5 0 0 79 13 61

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 Indeterminate (permanent) 36 36 14 8 5 1 0 73 13 4735
2017 Term 41 29 18 6 6 1 0 70 12 245
2017 Casual 47 24 14 8 5 2 1 73 13 93
2017 Student 48 30 10 10 3 0 0 77 13 61

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 Indeterminate (permanent) 3 18 44 22 13 0 0 21 35 4696
2017 Term 8 29 39 14 9 0 0 38 23 244
2017 Casual 14 39 36 6 3 1 0 54 10 93
2017 Student 11 48 30 10 2 0 0 59 11 61

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 Indeterminate (permanent) 11 23 42 18 5 0 0 23 34 4692
2017 Term 7 19 33 24 14 2 1 39 27 245
2017 Casual 3 8 39 33 15 2 0 49 11 93
2017 Student 0 11 44 28 16 0 0 44 11 61
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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 Indeterminate (permanent) 24 76 4691
2017 Term 21 79 243
2017 Casual 15 85 91
2017 Student 10 90 61
2014 Indeterminate (permanent) 20 80 6105
2014 Term 16 84 377
2014 Casual 17 83 65
2014 Student 9 91 70

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

Survey year Demographic  
(%)
Total responses
2017 Indeterminate (permanent) 48 1067
2017 Term 42 45
2014 Indeterminate (permanent) 47 1191
2014 Term 59 59

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

Survey year Demographic  
(%)
Total responses
2017 Indeterminate (permanent) 62 1067
2017 Term 58 45
2017 Casual 56 14
2014 Indeterminate (permanent) 64 1191
2014 Term 41 59

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

Survey year Demographic  
(%)
Total responses
2017 Indeterminate (permanent) 10 1067
2017 Term 0 45
2017 Casual 0 14
2014 Indeterminate (permanent) 8 1191
2014 Term 0 59

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 Indeterminate (permanent) 2 1067
2017 Casual 0 14
2014 Indeterminate (permanent) 2 1191
2014 Term 0 59

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

Survey year Demographic  
(%)
Total responses
2017 Indeterminate (permanent) 5 1067
2014 Indeterminate (permanent) 4 1191
2014 Term 11 59

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

Survey year Demographic  
(%)
Total responses
2017 Indeterminate (permanent) 8 1067
2014 Indeterminate (permanent) 7 1191
2014 Term 16 59

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

Survey year Demographic  
(%)
Total responses
2017 Indeterminate (permanent) 4 1067
2017 Term 0 45
2017 Casual 0 14
2014 Indeterminate (permanent) 3 1191
2014 Term 0 59
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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 Indeterminate (permanent) 13 87 4732
2017 Term 11 89 242
2017 Casual 9 91 92
2017 Student 0 100 61
2014 Indeterminate (permanent) 8 92 6094
2014 Term 4 96 375
2014 Casual 10 90 65
2014 Student 11 89 70

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

Survey year Demographic  
(%)
Total responses
2017 Indeterminate (permanent) 33 599
2017 Term 22 28
2014 Indeterminate (permanent) 32 453
2014 Term 51 17

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

Survey year Demographic  
(%)
Total responses
2017 Indeterminate (permanent) 77 599
2017 Term 75 28
2014 Indeterminate (permanent) 80 453
2014 Term 60 17

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

Survey year Demographic  
(%)
Total responses
2017 Indeterminate (permanent) 5 599
2017 Term 0 28
2014 Indeterminate (permanent) 4 453
2014 Term 0 17

Question 17d. From whom did you experience discrimination on the job? Individuals for whom I have a custodial responsibility (e.g., inmates, offenders, patients, detainees)

Survey year Demographic  
(%)
Total responses
2017 Indeterminate (permanent) 4 599
2014 Indeterminate (permanent) 2 453
2014 Term 0 17

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

Survey year Demographic  
(%)
Total responses
2017 Indeterminate (permanent) 7 599
2014 Indeterminate (permanent) 6 453

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

Survey year Demographic  
(%)
Total responses
2017 Indeterminate (permanent) 9 599
2017 Term 18 28
2014 Indeterminate (permanent) 7 453

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

Survey year Demographic  
(%)
Total responses
2017 Indeterminate (permanent) 6 599
2014 Indeterminate (permanent) 8 453
2014 Term 0 17