2017 Public Service Employee Annual Survey Results for Canadian Institutes of Health Research 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 39 41 14 2 2 2 2 82 3 67
2017 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 41 36 8 5 5 5 0 81 11 109
2017 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 56 29 3 5 2 5 0 89 7 67
2014 Less than 3 years in current department or agency 55 27 5 4 0 9 0 90 4 55
2014 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 44 33 13 3 1 7 0 82 3 198
2014 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 47 29 19 1 0 3 0 79 1 72
2014 More than 20 years in current department or agency 53 16 24 0 0 7 0 75 0 13

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 59 30 6 5 0 0 0 89 5 68
2017 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 36 42 10 9 4 0 0 78 13 109
2017 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 42 32 9 13 3 0 0 75 16 67
2014 Less than 3 years in current department or agency 66 30 2 2 0 0 0 96 2 55
2014 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 51 38 7 2 2 0 0 90 4 198
2014 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 60 32 6 1 1 0 0 92 3 72
2014 More than 20 years in current department or agency 53 23 24 0 0 0 0 76 0 13

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 32 8 9 0 0 0 83 9 68
2017 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 38 42 7 7 6 0 0 80 13 109
2017 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 40 33 16 8 4 0 0 73 12 67
2014 Less than 3 years in current department or agency 57 25 11 5 2 0 0 82 7 55
2014 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 31 42 15 7 4 0 1 74 11 198
2014 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 41 32 15 11 0 0 0 73 11 72
2014 More than 20 years in current department or agency 39 31 23 8 0 0 0 70 8 13

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 33 54 6 6 2 0 0 87 8 68
2017 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 32 42 7 15 3 0 0 75 18 108
2017 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 21 48 14 12 4 0 0 69 16 66

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 56 28 8 4 3 0 0 85 7 68
2017 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 42 30 11 9 9 0 0 71 18 109
2017 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 33 36 6 16 9 0 0 69 25 67
2014 Less than 3 years in current department or agency 70 14 9 4 3 0 0 84 7 55
2014 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 45 34 8 9 3 0 1 80 12 196
2014 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 49 36 14 1 0 0 0 85 1 72
2014 More than 20 years in current department or agency 46 16 16 7 8 0 7 67 16 13

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 43 38 14 4 2 0 0 81 6 68
2017 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 28 38 10 21 3 1 0 66 24 109
2017 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 25 35 16 12 12 1 0 60 24 67
2014 Less than 3 years in current department or agency 66 28 4 2 0 0 0 94 2 55
2014 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 38 39 13 7 4 0 0 76 11 197
2014 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 39 42 11 7 0 1 0 82 7 72
2014 More than 20 years in current department or agency 54 24 15 8 0 0 0 77 8 13

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 53 34 8 2 2 0 0 87 4 68
2017 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 33 44 7 12 2 2 0 78 15 108
2017 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 34 47 8 6 5 0 0 81 11 67
2014 Less than 3 years in current department or agency 59 32 5 4 0 0 0 91 4 55
2014 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 37 47 6 5 4 1 0 85 9 198
2014 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 46 32 13 8 1 0 0 78 10 72
2014 More than 20 years in current department or agency 62 30 0 8 0 0 0 92 8 13
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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 60 24 13 2 2 0 0 84 3 68
2017 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 59 21 6 8 6 0 0 80 14 108
2017 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 59 28 1 11 1 0 0 87 12 67

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 24 8 3 2 0 0 87 5 68
2017 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 59 20 8 7 5 0 0 79 13 108
2017 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 54 31 13 2 1 0 0 85 3 67

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 37 41 8 12 3 0 0 78 14 68
2017 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 23 29 13 17 17 0 0 52 34 108
2017 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 23 30 14 19 14 0 0 53 33 67

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 53 38 2 6 0 2 0 92 6 67
2017 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 36 45 8 5 6 0 0 81 11 108
2017 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 35 44 14 5 2 0 0 79 7 65

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 8 29 36 24 3 0 0 37 27 68
2017 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 4 9 47 24 15 0 0 13 39 108
2017 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 0 12 44 25 19 0 0 12 44 67

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 4 18 31 23 23 0 0 46 23 66
2017 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 15 24 42 13 5 1 1 19 39 107
2017 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 10 23 47 15 4 0 0 19 33 67
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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 9 91 68
2017 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 12 88 109
2017 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 12 88 67
2014 Less than 3 years in current department or agency 9 91 55
2014 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 19 81 198
2014 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 14 86 71

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

Survey year Demographic  
(%)
Total responses
2017 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 48 13
2014 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 53 36
2014 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 60 10

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 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 0 13
2014 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 0 36
2014 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 0 10

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

Survey year Demographic  
(%)
Total responses
2017 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 0 13
2014 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 0 36
2014 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 0 10

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 13
2014 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 0 10

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

Survey year Demographic  
(%)
Total responses
2017 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 0 13
2014 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 0 36
2014 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 0 10
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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 0 100 68
2017 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 7 93 108
2017 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 9 91 67
2014 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 6 94 197
2014 More than 20 years in current department or agency 0 100 13