2017 Public Service Employee Annual Survey Results for Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council 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 43 41 8 5 0 3 0 87 5 63
2017 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 41 33 13 9 4 0 0 74 13 79
2017 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 41 26 18 7 7 0 0 67 15 27
2014 Less than 3 years in current department or agency 43 23 7 11 5 11 0 74 18 44
2014 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 44 31 14 3 3 3 1 78 7 87
2014 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 54 21 11 4 0 11 0 84 4 28

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 33 3 2 2 2 0 93 3 63
2017 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 49 31 8 8 5 0 0 79 13 78
2017 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 48 34 7 4 7 0 0 82 11 27
2014 Less than 3 years in current department or agency 66 25 7 2 0 0 0 91 2 44
2014 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 48 39 10 1 1 0 0 87 2 87
2014 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 64 25 11 0 0 0 0 89 0 28

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 42 37 13 6 0 2 0 80 7 63
2017 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 47 22 15 10 5 0 0 69 16 79
2017 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 37 37 11 11 4 0 0 74 15 27
2014 Less than 3 years in current department or agency 41 41 7 7 2 2 0 84 9 44
2014 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 40 26 16 12 6 0 0 67 17 87
2014 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 43 36 7 7 7 0 0 79 14 28

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 38 16 10 0 2 2 74 10 63
2017 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 31 34 9 19 6 0 0 66 26 79
2017 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 29 38 4 19 11 0 0 67 29 27

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 52 35 10 0 3 0 0 87 3 63
2017 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 52 24 9 10 5 0 0 76 15 79
2017 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 37 45 3 11 4 0 0 82 15 27
2014 Less than 3 years in current department or agency 50 28 11 5 7 0 0 77 11 44
2014 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 41 32 12 10 3 0 1 74 14 87
2014 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 57 21 14 4 4 0 0 79 7 28

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 55 30 8 6 0 0 0 86 6 63
2017 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 45 29 9 12 5 0 0 74 17 79
2017 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 37 30 14 15 4 0 0 67 19 27
2014 Less than 3 years in current department or agency 45 37 11 2 5 0 0 82 7 44
2014 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 36 33 16 12 3 0 0 69 15 87
2014 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 36 46 7 7 4 0 0 82 11 28

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 38 6 2 0 0 0 92 2 63
2017 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 48 28 10 8 6 0 0 75 14 79
2017 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 41 30 14 15 0 0 0 71 15 27
2014 Less than 3 years in current department or agency 46 32 18 2 2 0 0 77 5 44
2014 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 39 36 15 5 6 0 0 75 10 87
2014 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 54 32 11 4 0 0 0 86 4 28
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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 69 19 5 5 0 2 0 90 5 63
2017 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 59 21 9 6 4 0 0 81 10 79
2017 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 67 7 11 11 4 0 0 74 15 27

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 73 18 5 2 0 3 0 93 2 63
2017 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 61 16 11 9 3 0 0 77 12 79
2017 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 65 12 8 11 4 0 0 77 15 26

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 53 37 2 6 0 2 0 92 7 63
2017 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 39 32 9 8 12 0 0 71 20 78
2017 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 33 26 14 19 7 0 0 60 26 27

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 40 37 16 2 0 5 0 81 2 63
2017 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 39 38 11 8 4 0 0 77 12 79
2017 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 48 19 30 0 4 0 0 67 4 27

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 10 31 40 16 3 0 0 40 19 62
2017 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 10 18 39 23 10 0 0 28 33 79
2017 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 3 19 41 26 11 0 0 22 37 27

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 2 13 42 27 18 0 0 44 14 63
2017 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 5 25 41 15 14 0 0 29 30 79
2017 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 7 15 43 23 7 0 4 32 24 26
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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 11 89 62
2017 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 29 71 78
2017 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 30 70 27
2014 Less than 3 years in current department or agency 11 89 44
2014 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 20 80 87

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 70 23
2014 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 29 17

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

Survey year Demographic  
(%)
Total responses
2017 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 66 23
2014 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 82 17

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 23
2014 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 0 17

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 23
2014 3 to 10 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 23
2014 3 to 10 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 13 87 63
2017 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 12 88 78
2014 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 8 92 87
2014 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 0 100 28