2017 Public Service Employee Annual Survey Results for Health Canada by Question 30. What is your gender?

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 Male 45 36 8 4 4 3 0 84 8 1620
2017 Female 47 35 9 4 2 3 0 84 7 3437
2014 Male 43 35 11 3 2 5 0 82 6 2223
2014 Female 45 35 12 3 2 3 0 83 5 4321

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 Male 38 37 10 9 6 0 0 75 15 1618
2017 Female 38 40 9 9 5 0 0 78 13 3431
2014 Male 44 36 10 6 3 0 0 81 9 2223
2014 Female 45 38 9 5 3 0 0 83 8 4323
2011 Male 37 37 14 6 5 1 0 75 11 2364
2011 Female 42 37 11 6 4 1 0 79 10 4496
2008 Male 36 38 13 7 5 1 0 75 12 2202
2008 Female 38 39 11 7 4 1 0 78 12 4466

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 Male 29 30 17 13 9 0 0 60 22 1614
2017 Female 31 38 12 10 7 0 0 70 18 3426
2014 Male 29 34 17 12 8 0 0 63 20 2223
2014 Female 29 38 14 11 7 0 0 67 19 4327

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 Male 22 33 18 14 11 1 0 57 25 1611
2017 Female 23 38 15 13 9 1 0 62 22 3428

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 Male 37 35 12 8 7 1 0 72 16 1615
2017 Female 38 35 10 10 7 0 0 73 17 3432
2014 Male 38 35 12 8 6 1 1 74 14 2223
2014 Female 39 35 10 9 7 0 0 74 16 4321
2011 Male 40 36 11 6 5 0 1 77 11 2367
2011 Female 44 33 8 9 5 0 0 78 14 4504

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 Male 26 39 15 10 9 1 0 66 19 1617
2017 Female 28 42 13 10 8 0 0 70 17 3431
2014 Male 24 39 18 11 8 0 0 63 19 2221
2014 Female 28 38 15 12 6 1 0 66 18 4325
2011 Male 25 39 18 9 8 1 0 64 17 2367
2011 Female 31 38 15 10 5 0 0 69 16 4498
2008 Male 28 39 17 11 6 0 0 67 17 2203
2008 Female 32 40 12 10 6 0 0 72 16 4458

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 Male 38 38 11 8 4 0 0 77 12 1617
2017 Female 38 41 9 7 4 0 0 80 11 3436
2014 Male 36 40 12 8 4 0 0 75 12 2221
2014 Female 40 40 10 6 3 0 0 80 10 4325
2011 Male 39 41 11 6 3 0 0 80 9 2367
2011 Female 42 40 9 6 3 0 0 82 9 4505
2008 Male 40 42 8 7 3 0 0 82 10 2205
2008 Female 44 39 8 6 3 0 0 83 9 4465
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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 Male 53 25 9 6 6 0 0 79 12 1620
2017 Female 54 24 6 7 8 0 0 78 15 3440

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 Male 53 24 11 6 6 0 0 77 12 1619
2017 Female 56 23 8 6 7 1 0 79 13 3434

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 Male 28 34 14 12 11 0 0 62 24 1617
2017 Female 28 33 12 13 13 0 0 62 26 3437

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 Male 38 35 15 7 4 1 0 73 12 1618
2017 Female 37 36 14 8 5 1 0 73 13 3433

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 Male 4 19 42 22 11 0 0 23 34 1609
2017 Female 4 20 43 21 13 0 0 24 33 3403

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 Male 8 23 41 21 6 1 0 28 31 1613
2017 Female 11 22 42 18 6 0 0 24 33 3394
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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 Male 18 82 1607
2017 Female 26 74 3396
2014 Male 16 84 2222
2014 Female 22 78 4316

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

Survey year Demographic  
(%)
Total responses
2017 Male 43 283
2017 Female 49 814
2014 Male 45 338
2014 Female 48 900

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

Survey year Demographic  
(%)
Total responses
2017 Male 64 283
2017 Female 60 814
2014 Male 64 338
2014 Female 62 900

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

Survey year Demographic  
(%)
Total responses
2017 Male 10 283
2017 Female 9 814
2014 Male 8 338
2014 Female 8 900

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 Female 3 814
2014 Female 3 900

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

Survey year Demographic  
(%)
Total responses
2017 Male 5 283
2017 Female 6 814
2014 Male 4 338
2014 Female 4 900

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

Survey year Demographic  
(%)
Total responses
2017 Male 8 283
2017 Female 8 814
2014 Male 9 338
2014 Female 8 900

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

Survey year Demographic  
(%)
Total responses
2017 Male 2 283
2017 Female 4 814
2014 Male 5 338
2014 Female 2 900
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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 Male 11 89 1617
2017 Female 13 87 3426
2014 Male 8 92 2219
2014 Female 7 93 4306

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

Survey year Demographic  
(%)
Total responses
2017 Male 26 186
2017 Female 36 430
2014 Male 29 177
2014 Female 35 291

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

Survey year Demographic  
(%)
Total responses
2017 Male 79 186
2017 Female 76 430
2014 Male 77 177
2014 Female 79 291

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

Survey year Demographic  
(%)
Total responses
2017 Male 3 186
2017 Female 6 430
2014 Male 4 177
2014 Female 4 291

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 Female 5 430
2014 Female 3 291

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

Survey year Demographic  
(%)
Total responses
2017 Male 7 186
2017 Female 7 430
2014 Male 6 177
2014 Female 7 291

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

Survey year Demographic  
(%)
Total responses
2017 Male 8 186
2017 Female 11 430
2014 Male 10 177
2014 Female 6 291

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

Survey year Demographic  
(%)
Total responses
2017 Male 7 186
2017 Female 4 430
2014 Male 12 177
2014 Female 5 291