2017 Public Service Employee Annual Survey Results for Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat by Question 20.1. Occupational category (variable derived from question 20)

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 Executive 58 30 5 4 1 2 0 90 5 169
2017 Scientific and Professional 43 37 9 5 2 4 0 83 8 351
2017 Administration and Foreign Services 52 32 8 2 2 4 0 88 4 781
2017 Administrative Support 52 26 4 4 9 4 0 82 14 23
2017 Other 61 30 0 4 0 4 0 95 5 23
2014 Executive 51 39 3 2 0 3 1 94 2 145
2014 Scientific and Professional 42 39 11 2 2 4 1 84 4 329
2014 Administration and Foreign Services 52 30 10 2 1 4 0 86 4 821
2014 Administrative Support 41 37 12 0 7 0 2 80 8 41
2014 Other 50 26 9 9 3 3 0 78 13 34

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 Executive 49 38 5 5 3 0 0 87 8 168
2017 Scientific and Professional 45 36 8 7 4 0 0 81 11 349
2017 Administration and Foreign Services 47 37 7 6 3 0 0 84 10 779
2017 Administrative Support 39 39 4 13 4 0 0 78 17 23
2017 Other 74 17 4 4 0 0 0 91 4 23
2014 Executive 64 27 3 3 2 0 0 91 6 144
2014 Scientific and Professional 47 38 9 3 2 1 0 86 5 330
2014 Administration and Foreign Services 53 34 8 3 2 0 0 87 4 821
2014 Administrative Support 46 20 12 19 0 0 2 67 20 41
2014 Other 61 23 13 0 3 0 0 84 3 34

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 Executive 40 42 10 5 3 0 0 82 8 169
2017 Scientific and Professional 34 36 12 11 7 0 0 70 18 351
2017 Administration and Foreign Services 39 34 11 10 6 0 0 73 15 780
2017 Administrative Support 39 39 13 4 4 0 0 78 9 23
2017 Other 35 43 13 0 9 0 0 78 9 23
2014 Executive 47 35 10 6 3 0 0 82 8 145
2014 Scientific and Professional 32 35 14 12 7 0 0 68 19 330
2014 Administration and Foreign Services 36 36 13 8 5 0 0 73 14 820
2014 Administrative Support 29 27 15 12 12 0 5 59 26 41
2014 Other 35 37 9 16 4 0 0 72 19 34

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 Executive 34 43 8 11 4 1 0 78 14 168
2017 Scientific and Professional 25 37 13 15 7 1 0 64 23 351
2017 Administration and Foreign Services 28 38 14 13 7 1 0 66 20 778
2017 Administrative Support 39 35 17 9 0 0 0 74 9 23
2017 Other 30 35 22 4 4 4 0 68 9 23

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 Executive 32 34 10 14 9 1 0 67 23 169
2017 Scientific and Professional 40 33 9 14 3 0 0 74 17 351
2017 Administration and Foreign Services 50 31 7 7 4 1 0 82 11 780
2017 Administrative Support 39 39 4 4 9 4 0 82 14 23
2017 Other 65 13 9 0 4 4 4 86 5 23
2014 Executive 39 30 12 12 6 0 1 70 18 143
2014 Scientific and Professional 38 33 12 13 4 0 1 71 17 330
2014 Administration and Foreign Services 45 33 9 8 4 0 0 79 12 821
2014 Administrative Support 39 29 7 17 5 0 2 70 23 41
2014 Other 35 35 14 10 4 0 3 71 14 34

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 Executive 47 37 6 7 4 0 0 83 11 169
2017 Scientific and Professional 39 34 13 9 5 0 0 73 15 348
2017 Administration and Foreign Services 39 39 10 7 5 0 0 78 12 780
2017 Administrative Support 22 43 22 9 4 0 0 65 13 23
2017 Other 61 26 4 4 0 4 0 91 5 23
2014 Executive 52 28 10 7 2 1 0 81 9 145
2014 Scientific and Professional 33 40 15 10 3 0 0 73 13 330
2014 Administration and Foreign Services 31 41 15 9 5 0 0 72 13 821
2014 Administrative Support 31 29 10 15 12 0 2 62 27 41
2014 Other 43 41 6 7 3 0 0 84 10 34

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 Executive 52 34 8 4 2 0 1 87 5 168
2017 Scientific and Professional 44 35 11 7 3 0 0 79 10 351
2017 Administration and Foreign Services 44 39 7 6 3 0 0 84 9 782
2017 Administrative Support 30 39 26 4 0 0 0 70 4 23
2017 Other 52 35 9 4 0 0 0 87 4 23
2014 Executive 57 34 4 4 1 0 0 91 5 145
2014 Scientific and Professional 34 44 10 8 3 0 0 79 11 330
2014 Administration and Foreign Services 41 39 11 5 4 0 0 80 8 819
2014 Administrative Support 39 27 10 15 10 0 0 66 24 41
2014 Other 35 56 6 3 0 0 0 91 3 34
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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 Executive 58 27 8 3 2 2 0 87 5 169
2017 Scientific and Professional 58 23 5 8 5 0 0 82 13 349
2017 Administration and Foreign Services 60 22 6 7 5 0 0 82 12 777
2017 Administrative Support 52 30 4 9 4 0 0 83 13 23
2017 Other 70 17 0 9 0 4 0 91 9 23

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 Executive 62 26 8 2 2 1 0 88 4 168
2017 Scientific and Professional 60 22 8 6 4 1 0 82 10 348
2017 Administration and Foreign Services 62 20 8 5 5 1 0 82 10 776
2017 Administrative Support 61 26 9 0 4 0 0 87 4 23
2017 Other 78 17 4 0 0 0 0 96 0 23

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 Executive 34 40 8 9 8 1 0 75 17 169
2017 Scientific and Professional 37 31 10 14 7 1 0 68 21 349
2017 Administration and Foreign Services 39 30 11 10 9 1 0 69 19 777
2017 Administrative Support 30 26 17 13 13 0 0 57 26 23
2017 Other 78 9 9 0 4 0 0 87 4 23

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 Executive 50 36 8 2 2 1 0 87 5 167
2017 Scientific and Professional 34 37 13 9 4 2 0 73 14 348
2017 Administration and Foreign Services 39 35 14 8 3 1 0 75 11 772
2017 Administrative Support 30 43 13 0 9 4 0 77 9 23
2017 Other 39 39 9 4 0 9 0 86 5 23

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 Executive 1 10 35 38 16 0 0 11 55 167
2017 Scientific and Professional 2 19 47 26 7 0 0 21 32 345
2017 Administration and Foreign Services 4 18 45 23 10 0 0 22 33 773
2017 Administrative Support 9 17 35 30 9 0 0 26 39 23
2017 Other 23 45 18 5 9 0 0 68 14 22

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 Executive 13 25 48 13 2 0 0 14 38 166
2017 Scientific and Professional 7 23 43 23 4 0 0 27 30 344
2017 Administration and Foreign Services 8 24 41 19 7 0 0 26 33 774
2017 Administrative Support 14 27 36 14 9 0 0 23 41 22
2017 Other 0 13 39 26 22 0 0 48 13 23
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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 Executive 15 85 168
2017 Scientific and Professional 17 83 347
2017 Administration and Foreign Services 21 79 776
2017 Administrative Support 30 70 23
2014 Executive 13 87 145
2014 Scientific and Professional 17 83 330
2014 Administration and Foreign Services 16 84 822
2014 Administrative Support 29 71 41

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

Survey year Demographic  
(%)
Total responses
2017 Scientific and Professional 33 61
2017 Administration and Foreign Services 38 161
2014 Scientific and Professional 23 56
2014 Administration and Foreign Services 37 134
2014 Administrative Support 67 12

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

Survey year Demographic  
(%)
Total responses
2017 Scientific and Professional 75 61
2017 Administration and Foreign Services 75 161
2014 Executive 74 19
2014 Scientific and Professional 72 56
2014 Administration and Foreign Services 75 134
2014 Administrative Support 92 12

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

Survey year Demographic  
(%)
Total responses
2017 Administration and Foreign Services 6 161
2014 Administration and Foreign Services 5 134
2014 Administrative Support 0 12

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 Executive 0 24
2017 Scientific and Professional 0 61
2017 Administration and Foreign Services 0 161
2014 Executive 0 19
2014 Scientific and Professional 0 56
2014 Administration and Foreign Services 0 134
2014 Administrative Support 0 12

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

Survey year Demographic  
(%)
Total responses
2017 Administration and Foreign Services 5 161
2014 Administration and Foreign Services 6 134

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

Survey year Demographic  
(%)
Total responses
2017 Executive 0 24
2017 Scientific and Professional 0 61
2014 Executive 0 19
2014 Administrative Support 0 12

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

Survey year Demographic  
(%)
Total responses
2017 Executive 0 24
2017 Administration and Foreign Services 4 161
2014 Executive 0 19
2014 Administrative Support 0 12
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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 Executive 5 95 168
2017 Scientific and Professional 12 88 346
2017 Administration and Foreign Services 10 90 776
2014 Executive 6 94 145
2014 Scientific and Professional 6 94 329
2014 Administration and Foreign Services 8 92 821
2014 Administrative Support 22 78 41

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

Survey year Demographic  
(%)
Total responses
2017 Scientific and Professional 34 43
2017 Administration and Foreign Services 33 71
2014 Scientific and Professional 42 19
2014 Administration and Foreign Services 31 63

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

Survey year Demographic  
(%)
Total responses
2017 Scientific and Professional 82 43
2017 Administration and Foreign Services 80 71
2014 Scientific and Professional 84 19
2014 Administration and Foreign Services 81 63

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 Scientific and Professional 0 43
2014 Scientific and Professional 0 19
2014 Administration and Foreign Services 0 63

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

Survey year Demographic  
(%)
Total responses
2017 Administration and Foreign Services 14 71
2014 Administration and Foreign Services 7 63