2017 Public Service Employee Annual Survey Results for Privy Council Office by Question 25. In total, how many years have you been working in your current department or agency?

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 Less than 3 years in current department or agency 45 35 9 6 1 4 0 83 8 278
2017 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 45 31 10 10 2 1 0 77 12 159
2017 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 47 32 11 8 1 1 0 80 9 67
2017 More than 20 years in current department or agency 40 43 17 0 0 0 0 83 0 12
2014 Less than 3 years in current department or agency 46 27 13 4 1 8 0 80 6 213
2014 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 43 35 12 4 1 4 1 82 6 288
2014 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 40 38 18 1 1 2 0 80 2 90
2014 More than 20 years in current department or agency 45 31 6 3 0 13 3 89 4 31

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 Less than 3 years in current department or agency 53 31 7 7 2 0 0 84 9 278
2017 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 45 36 8 6 5 0 0 81 11 159
2017 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 41 37 12 6 3 0 0 79 9 66
2017 More than 20 years in current department or agency 21 53 8 18 0 0 0 74 18 11
2014 Less than 3 years in current department or agency 71 20 4 4 1 0 0 91 5 213
2014 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 54 33 7 3 2 1 0 88 5 288
2014 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 54 30 10 4 1 1 0 85 5 90
2014 More than 20 years in current department or agency 64 33 3 0 0 0 0 97 0 31

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 Less than 3 years in current department or agency 51 29 6 9 5 0 1 80 14 278
2017 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 35 37 8 14 7 0 0 72 21 158
2017 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 50 27 10 6 7 0 0 77 13 67
2017 More than 20 years in current department or agency 28 37 17 18 0 0 0 65 18 11
2014 Less than 3 years in current department or agency 45 38 6 6 5 0 0 83 11 213
2014 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 32 41 12 7 6 0 1 74 14 287
2014 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 36 45 13 4 2 0 0 81 6 90
2014 More than 20 years in current department or agency 30 46 14 9 0 0 0 77 9 31

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 Less than 3 years in current department or agency 40 35 11 7 5 1 1 77 12 275
2017 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 29 31 15 14 9 2 0 62 24 158
2017 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 31 38 17 9 6 0 0 68 15 66
2017 More than 20 years in current department or agency 28 31 8 25 7 0 0 60 32 11

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 Less than 3 years in current department or agency 33 32 9 16 10 1 0 65 26 278
2017 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 26 38 13 12 11 0 0 64 23 159
2017 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 34 35 13 13 5 0 0 69 18 66
2017 More than 20 years in current department or agency 29 45 15 11 0 0 0 74 11 11
2014 Less than 3 years in current department or agency 36 34 11 13 4 1 0 71 17 213
2014 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 38 33 13 9 5 1 0 72 15 288
2014 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 33 38 18 7 3 0 1 71 11 90
2014 More than 20 years in current department or agency 43 31 16 6 3 0 0 75 9 31

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 Less than 3 years in current department or agency 47 36 6 6 4 0 0 84 10 277
2017 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 40 29 17 8 6 0 0 69 14 159
2017 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 36 35 17 6 5 0 0 72 11 67
2017 More than 20 years in current department or agency 28 31 8 25 7 0 0 60 32 11
2014 Less than 3 years in current department or agency 62 27 5 4 2 0 0 89 6 213
2014 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 44 34 14 7 2 0 0 77 9 287
2014 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 37 37 17 5 4 0 0 75 8 90
2014 More than 20 years in current department or agency 58 36 6 0 0 0 0 94 0 31

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 Less than 3 years in current department or agency 52 34 5 7 3 0 0 85 10 278
2017 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 44 34 10 7 5 0 0 78 12 159
2017 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 46 37 12 3 1 0 0 84 4 67
2017 More than 20 years in current department or agency 37 46 7 11 0 0 0 82 11 11
2014 Less than 3 years in current department or agency 55 33 7 4 2 0 0 87 6 212
2014 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 45 39 7 5 3 1 0 84 9 288
2014 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 58 30 4 1 6 0 0 88 7 90
2014 More than 20 years in current department or agency 57 30 9 0 4 0 0 87 4 31
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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 Less than 3 years in current department or agency 65 18 5 7 5 0 0 83 12 278
2017 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 50 26 7 7 10 0 0 76 17 159
2017 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 63 18 9 5 5 0 0 81 10 66
2017 More than 20 years in current department or agency 47 23 12 18 0 0 0 70 18 12

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 Less than 3 years in current department or agency 63 20 7 5 5 0 0 83 10 278
2017 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 52 24 8 4 11 1 0 76 16 159
2017 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 63 18 8 7 5 0 0 81 11 67
2017 More than 20 years in current department or agency 44 24 6 26 0 0 0 68 26 11

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 Less than 3 years in current department or agency 39 31 10 11 7 0 1 71 19 278
2017 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 31 31 11 14 13 1 0 62 27 158
2017 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 32 32 15 8 13 0 0 64 21 67
2017 More than 20 years in current department or agency 8 30 0 42 19 0 0 39 61 11

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 Less than 3 years in current department or agency 41 35 12 6 3 3 0 78 9 278
2017 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 35 35 17 5 7 2 0 71 12 159
2017 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 29 42 14 7 9 0 0 70 16 67
2017 More than 20 years in current department or agency 23 28 28 14 7 0 0 51 21 11

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 Less than 3 years in current department or agency 4 16 42 26 11 0 0 21 37 276
2017 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 0 13 34 36 14 1 1 14 51 155
2017 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 4 17 32 28 19 0 0 21 47 64
2017 More than 20 years in current department or agency 0 9 38 44 9 0 0 9 53 11

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 Less than 3 years in current department or agency 9 25 41 19 5 0 0 24 34 274
2017 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 14 27 37 16 6 0 1 22 41 156
2017 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 12 32 39 13 0 0 4 14 46 67
2017 More than 20 years in current department or agency 0 39 39 22 0 0 0 22 39 11
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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 Less than 3 years in current department or agency 16 84 273
2017 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 23 77 158
2017 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 11 89 67
2014 Less than 3 years in current department or agency 12 88 213
2014 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 13 87 286
2014 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 19 81 90

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

Survey year Demographic  
(%)
Total responses
2017 Less than 3 years in current department or agency 47 43
2017 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 36 38
2014 Less than 3 years in current department or agency 42 25
2014 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 47 37
2014 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 36 17

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

Survey year Demographic  
(%)
Total responses
2017 Less than 3 years in current department or agency 60 43
2017 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 70 38
2014 Less than 3 years in current department or agency 70 25
2014 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 56 37
2014 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 53 17

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

Survey year Demographic  
(%)
Total responses
2017 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 0 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 Less than 3 years in current department or agency 0 43
2017 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 0 38
2014 Less than 3 years in current department or agency 0 25
2014 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 0 37
2014 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 0 17

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

Survey year Demographic  
(%)
Total responses
2017 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 0 38
2014 Less than 3 years in current department or agency 0 25
2014 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 0 17
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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 Less than 3 years in current department or agency 7 93 274
2017 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 10 90 154
2014 Less than 3 years in current department or agency 4 96 212
2014 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 6 94 287
2014 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 5 95 90
2014 More than 20 years in current department or agency 0 100 31

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

Survey year Demographic  
(%)
Total responses
2017 Less than 3 years in current department or agency 31 17
2014 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 68 15

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

Survey year Demographic  
(%)
Total responses
2017 Less than 3 years in current department or agency 53 17
2014 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 82 15

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

Survey year Demographic  
(%)
Total responses
2017 Less than 3 years in current department or agency 0 17
2014 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 0 15

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 Less than 3 years in current department or agency 0 17
2017 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 0 16
2014 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 0 15

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

Survey year Demographic  
(%)
Total responses
2017 Less than 3 years in current department or agency 0 17
2017 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 0 16

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

Survey year Demographic  
(%)
Total responses
2017 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 0 16