2017 Public Service Employee Annual Survey Results for Innovation, Science and Economic 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

Top of Page

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 34 36 13 8 6 2 0 72 14 443
2017 Non-visible minority 46 36 9 3 2 3 0 84 6 2219
2014 Visible minority 36 35 15 6 4 4 0 74 10 559
2014 Non-visible minority 45 34 12 2 1 5 0 84 4 2946

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 39 37 9 8 6 0 0 76 14 446
2017 Non-visible minority 41 38 9 8 5 0 0 78 12 2215
2014 Visible minority 44 37 12 3 3 1 0 82 6 561
2014 Non-visible minority 49 35 9 4 2 0 0 84 7 2944
2011 Visible minority 41 38 14 3 3 1 0 80 6 602
2011 Non-visible minority 40 38 12 6 3 1 0 78 10 3270
2008 Visible minority 31 42 14 6 5 2 0 75 11 465
2008 Non-visible minority 35 41 12 7 5 0 0 76 11 3044

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 28 34 17 11 10 0 0 62 21 447
2017 Non-visible minority 30 35 15 11 8 0 0 65 19 2218
2014 Visible minority 28 32 18 12 8 1 0 61 20 561
2014 Non-visible minority 28 36 15 13 8 0 0 65 21 2946

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 33 20 15 11 2 0 54 26 444
2017 Non-visible minority 23 35 18 13 9 1 0 59 23 2214

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 38 37 10 7 7 0 0 76 14 445
2017 Non-visible minority 42 34 11 7 5 0 1 76 12 2218
2014 Visible minority 40 38 10 7 4 0 0 78 11 561
2014 Non-visible minority 44 32 10 8 5 0 0 77 13 2946
2011 Visible minority 44 36 11 5 3 0 0 80 9 602
2011 Non-visible minority 45 35 9 6 3 0 1 81 10 3284

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 38 15 10 10 0 0 65 19 446
2017 Non-visible minority 33 37 13 10 6 0 0 70 16 2222
2014 Visible minority 32 38 16 7 5 1 0 71 12 560
2014 Non-visible minority 33 38 15 9 5 0 0 72 13 2947
2011 Visible minority 32 39 18 7 4 0 0 71 11 600
2011 Non-visible minority 29 39 17 10 5 0 0 68 15 3276
2008 Visible minority 28 38 19 9 6 1 0 66 15 465
2008 Non-visible minority 29 41 15 10 5 0 0 70 15 3050

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 4 0 0 76 11 445
2017 Non-visible minority 38 38 12 7 4 0 0 76 11 2223
2014 Visible minority 36 41 11 8 3 1 0 78 11 562
2014 Non-visible minority 37 41 12 6 4 0 0 78 10 2947
2011 Visible minority 38 42 10 6 2 0 0 81 9 602
2011 Non-visible minority 38 43 10 6 3 0 0 81 9 3285
2008 Visible minority 38 42 9 7 3 0 0 80 11 465
2008 Non-visible minority 39 43 9 6 3 0 0 82 9 3048
Top of Page

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 52 26 10 8 5 0 0 77 13 446
2017 Non-visible minority 56 24 8 6 5 0 0 80 11 2217

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 50 29 8 5 6 1 0 80 12 448
2017 Non-visible minority 57 24 9 5 5 0 0 82 9 2216

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 29 34 13 12 11 1 0 63 24 446
2017 Non-visible minority 33 30 14 13 10 0 0 63 23 2215

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 27 38 16 12 5 1 0 66 17 446
2017 Non-visible minority 33 35 17 8 5 1 0 70 13 2216

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 5 21 41 21 11 0 0 26 33 447
2017 Non-visible minority 4 22 43 20 10 0 0 26 30 2202

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 7 19 45 22 6 0 0 28 26 445
2017 Non-visible minority 8 22 39 22 9 0 0 31 30 2201
Top of Page

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 21 79 443
2017 Non-visible minority 20 80 2206
2014 Visible minority 14 86 560
2014 Non-visible minority 15 85 2941

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

Survey year Demographic  
(%)
Total responses
2017 Visible minority 55 90
2017 Non-visible minority 42 432
2014 Visible minority 46 77
2014 Non-visible minority 42 435

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

Survey year Demographic  
(%)
Total responses
2017 Visible minority 67 90
2017 Non-visible minority 68 432
2014 Visible minority 73 77
2014 Non-visible minority 67 435

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

Survey year Demographic  
(%)
Total responses
2017 Non-visible minority 6 432
2014 Visible minority 8 77
2014 Non-visible minority 7 435

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 90
2014 Non-visible minority 0 435

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 6 90
2017 Non-visible minority 3 432
2014 Non-visible minority 3 435

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 8 90
2017 Non-visible minority 8 432
2014 Non-visible minority 6 435

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

Survey year Demographic  
(%)
Total responses
2017 Visible minority 5 90
2017 Non-visible minority 4 432
2014 Non-visible minority 2 435
Top of Page

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 18 82 444
2017 Non-visible minority 9 91 2215
2014 Visible minority 8 92 558
2014 Non-visible minority 6 94 2945

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

Survey year Demographic  
(%)
Total responses
2017 Visible minority 35 78
2017 Non-visible minority 29 196
2014 Visible minority 33 44
2014 Non-visible minority 34 165

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

Survey year Demographic  
(%)
Total responses
2017 Visible minority 87 78
2017 Non-visible minority 89 196
2014 Visible minority 84 44
2014 Non-visible minority 91 165

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

Survey year Demographic  
(%)
Total responses
2017 Non-visible minority 4 196
2014 Non-visible minority 3 165

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 Non-visible minority 0 196
2014 Visible minority 0 44
2014 Non-visible minority 0 165

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 78
2017 Non-visible minority 6 196
2014 Non-visible minority 6 165

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 11 78
2017 Non-visible minority 3 196
2014 Non-visible minority 6 165

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

Survey year Demographic  
(%)
Total responses
2017 Non-visible minority 5 196
2014 Non-visible minority 5 165