2017 Public Service Employee Annual Survey Results for Privy Council Office by Question 27. What is your first official language?

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 First Offical Language - English 44 34 10 8 1 3 0 80 10 312
2017 First Offical Language - French 47 33 10 6 2 2 0 82 8 201
2014 First Offical Language - English 46 30 13 3 1 6 0 81 4 332
2014 First Offical Language - French 41 34 13 4 2 5 1 80 6 298

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 First Offical Language - English 49 33 8 9 2 0 0 82 10 312
2017 First Offical Language - French 48 34 9 3 5 0 0 82 9 199
2014 First Offical Language - English 63 25 6 4 1 0 0 89 5 332
2014 First Offical Language - French 56 31 8 3 1 1 0 88 4 298
2011 First Offical Language - English 53 32 8 4 3 1 0 86 6 361
2011 First Offical Language - French 52 34 10 1 3 0 0 86 4 326
2008 First Offical Language - English 47 35 8 5 5 0 0 81 10 237
2008 First Offical Language - French 40 43 10 5 2 0 0 83 7 242

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 First Offical Language - English 48 28 8 11 4 0 1 76 16 311
2017 First Offical Language - French 41 36 6 9 7 0 0 77 17 200
2014 First Offical Language - English 38 40 8 7 6 0 1 79 13 331
2014 First Offical Language - French 35 42 13 6 4 1 0 77 10 298

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 First Offical Language - English 37 35 11 10 5 1 1 73 16 307
2017 First Offical Language - French 33 32 15 10 8 1 0 67 18 200

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 First Offical Language - English 35 32 10 14 9 1 0 67 23 311
2017 First Offical Language - French 25 39 13 15 8 0 0 64 23 200
2014 First Offical Language - English 38 34 11 11 5 0 0 73 16 332
2014 First Offical Language - French 35 35 15 10 4 1 1 71 14 298
2011 First Offical Language - English 38 34 10 11 6 1 0 73 17 361
2011 First Offical Language - French 41 32 12 9 4 1 1 75 13 329

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 First Offical Language - English 46 34 8 8 3 0 0 81 11 312
2017 First Offical Language - French 39 33 15 6 6 0 0 72 13 200
2014 First Offical Language - English 55 27 9 6 3 0 0 82 8 332
2014 First Offical Language - French 43 36 14 5 2 0 0 80 7 297
2011 First Offical Language - English 46 32 12 7 3 0 0 78 10 356
2011 First Offical Language - French 47 31 13 5 4 1 0 79 9 329
2008 First Offical Language - English 44 32 13 8 3 0 0 76 11 237
2008 First Offical Language - French 40 41 14 2 2 0 0 81 5 242

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 First Offical Language - English 51 34 7 6 2 0 0 85 8 312
2017 First Offical Language - French 44 36 8 7 5 0 0 80 12 200
2014 First Offical Language - English 51 35 7 4 3 0 0 86 7 332
2014 First Offical Language - French 50 35 7 4 4 1 0 86 8 297
2011 First Offical Language - English 49 36 8 4 2 0 0 85 6 360
2011 First Offical Language - French 53 35 5 4 2 0 1 88 6 329
2008 First Offical Language - English 46 42 5 5 2 0 0 88 8 237
2008 First Offical Language - French 47 42 8 2 2 0 0 88 4 243
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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 First Offical Language - English 64 16 6 8 5 0 0 81 13 312
2017 First Offical Language - French 52 27 7 5 8 0 0 80 13 200

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 First Offical Language - English 66 16 6 6 6 0 0 82 12 312
2017 First Offical Language - French 49 28 10 5 8 1 0 78 13 200

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 First Offical Language - English 38 32 8 13 9 0 1 70 22 311
2017 First Offical Language - French 30 30 15 13 11 1 0 61 24 200

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 First Offical Language - English 40 32 15 7 5 1 0 73 11 312
2017 First Offical Language - French 33 40 13 5 5 3 0 75 11 200

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 First Offical Language - English 3 18 37 31 10 0 1 21 42 306
2017 First Offical Language - French 3 12 39 29 17 0 0 15 46 197

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 First Offical Language - English 9 31 37 18 5 0 0 23 40 307
2017 First Offical Language - French 13 23 42 16 4 1 1 20 37 198
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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 First Offical Language - English 19 81 309
2017 First Offical Language - French 15 85 198
2014 First Offical Language - English 12 88 329
2014 First Offical Language - French 15 85 297

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

Survey year Demographic  
(%)
Total responses
2017 First Offical Language - English 41 59
2017 First Offical Language - French 47 30
2014 First Offical Language - English 57 38
2014 First Offical Language - French 29 44

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

Survey year Demographic  
(%)
Total responses
2017 First Offical Language - English 61 59
2017 First Offical Language - French 66 30
2014 First Offical Language - English 55 38
2014 First Offical Language - French 64 44

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

Survey year Demographic  
(%)
Total responses
2017 First Offical Language - French 0 30
2014 First Offical Language - English 12 38

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 First Offical Language - English 0 59
2017 First Offical Language - French 0 30
2014 First Offical Language - English 0 38
2014 First Offical Language - French 0 44

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

Survey year Demographic  
(%)
Total responses
2017 First Offical Language - English 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 First Offical Language - English 9 91 308
2017 First Offical Language - French 6 94 196
2014 First Offical Language - English 5 95 332
2014 First Offical Language - French 5 95 296

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

Survey year Demographic  
(%)
Total responses
2017 First Offical Language - English 27 26
2014 First Offical Language - English 67 15
2014 First Offical Language - French 58 13

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

Survey year Demographic  
(%)
Total responses
2017 First Offical Language - English 67 26
2014 First Offical Language - English 81 15
2014 First Offical Language - French 65 13

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

Survey year Demographic  
(%)
Total responses
2017 First Offical Language - French 0 12
2014 First Offical Language - French 0 13

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 First Offical Language - English 0 26
2017 First Offical Language - French 0 12
2014 First Offical Language - English 0 15
2014 First Offical Language - French 0 13

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

Survey year Demographic  
(%)
Total responses
2017 First Offical Language - French 0 12

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

Survey year Demographic  
(%)
Total responses
2017 First Offical Language - English 0 26
2017 First Offical Language - French 0 12
2014 First Offical Language - French 0 13