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PSMAC Subcommittee on People Resourcing



Table of Contents



People Resourcing Subcommittee Members

The People Resourcing Subcommittee was established with the following membership:



Executive Summary: Report at a Glance

In March 2010, a subcommittee of the Public Service Management Advisory Committee (PSMAC) was established to examine issues and challenges regarding people resourcing in the public service. The Subcommittee quickly agreed that "people resourcing" is a wider lens than "staffing." It is a continuum of activities by which people enter, move around within, and leave the public service. A schematic can be found in Appendix A.

The Subcommittee gathered and examined data regarding people resourcing and has included a compendium to this report as Appendix A to foster further evidence-based discussion.

The Subcommittee set as its overall objective "to efficiently and effectively place the right people in the right jobs at the right time." It then reached out to gather the perspectives of human resources (HR) advisors, managers and employees in order to assess current people resourcing across the public service—where it is working well, where it falls short of an optimal system, and where there are priority issues to be tackled. The methodology and details of the engagement are set out in Appendix B.

The engagement revealed, and the Subcommittee acknowledges, that the context for people resourcing is far from static. It is still being affected by the 2003 Public Service Modernization Act (PSMA), by the sustained focus on public service renewal over the past several years, and by recent changes to the machinery of government in this area. There are important pockets of innovation across the public service. Aspects of the people resourcing continuum have been the subject of detailed and useful scrutiny, such as integrated planning, the possibilities of new Web‑based technologies, and post-secondary recruitment. Other important exercises are under way, including the administrative services review, a review of the PSMA, and an examination of the organization of work. This Subcommittee aspires to offer a picture of people resourcing that can complement and perhaps influence these other exercises.

The Subcommittee concludes that the most important gaps to be tackled are as follows:

These gaps can be closed; the Subcommittee provides recommendations to the deputy heads who will drive people management in each organization and to the Centre.See footnote[1]

The key recommendations are as follows:



Glossary

Collective staffing process
Is an approach that allows for one appointment process to fill several similar positions within or between departments and agencies.
Distinct staffing process
Is an approach that is normally intended to staff a single position.
Integrated planning
Is the process by which an organization aligns its human, financial, asset and information resources with its current and future business needs.
People resourcing
Refers to, for the purpose of this initiative, the range of complex and interrelated functions, activities and mechanisms used to place the right people in the right jobs at the right time.
The Centre
Constitutes central agencies of the Government of Canada, i.e., the Canada School of Public Service, the Department of Finance, the Privy Council Office, the Public Service Commission and the Office of the Chief Human Resources Officer at the Treasury Board Secretariat.
Web 2.0
Are Web applications that facilitate interactive information sharing, interoperability, and collaboration on the World Wide Web (e.g., GCPEDIA).


I. Background

In March 2010, the People Resourcing Subcommittee of the Public Service Management Advisory Committee (PSMAC) was established to focus on what steps could be taken within the existing system of HR management to:

The work of the Subcommittee represents just one of a number of initiatives underway that are contributing to improving people resourcing in the public service. In addition to individual departmental efforts, the following are some of the other initiatives taking place:



II. Approach

The following outlines the approach followed by the Subcommittee in managing this initiative.

Objectives

Guiding Principles

Scope

Recognizing that an optimal people resourcing system requires a range of complex and interrelated management functions and activities, it was determined that this analysis would focus on a limited number of gaps and recommend actions for both short- and longer-term strategies.

The scope was therefore focused on:

Methodology

The Subcommittee was tasked with developing and recommending options to address the concerns of stakeholders involved in decision-making processes related to people resourcing. Previous work, projects, reports and initiatives conducted on the same issues were consulted and used as building blocks for this report, including the following:

To obtain different perspectives on the current people resourcing system, consultations were initiated with various representatives of the managers and HR communities to identify existing gaps and propose options for improvement. In addition, quantitative analysis of all available dataSee footnote[2] for each aspect of the people resourcing continuum was undertaken to identify areas of concern or interest.

The following representatives were consulted through brainstorming sessions and focus group discussions to determine the perspective of managers and HR professionals:

Brainstorming and focus group session participants were asked to discuss the following:

The perspectives of candidates and employees have been based on individual consultations and feedback from the following:

See Appendix B for a detailed description of the methodology used.



III.  Findings

General Observations

Focus groups with managers, HR professionals, candidates and employees confirmed that these communities have similar views on the critical gaps of the current people resourcing system. The groups led the Subcommittee to identify four gaps requiring immediate attention.

Furthermore, data analysis highlighted the sheer volume of transactions, and time frames pointed to the urgent need to improve staffing. This supported the feedback that was received in the consultations.

People resourcing encompasses a broad spectrum of activities, including recruitment, staffing, classification, learning and development, performance management and more. Little was heard from either managers or HR communities regarding topics such as the time it takes to acquire security screening, the time and effort needed to address official languages issues, or the impact of employment equity and diversity. These processes appear to be less "top of mind" with managers and HR professionals.

On the other hand, we heard a great deal about staffing. It is the number one area of concern for managers and HR professionals alike. Given the volume of staffing activity, any improvement will provide important benefits to managers, candidates and HR service providers.

Growth, along with retirements and continued strong internal mobility, resulted in persistent high levels of staffing activity this year [2008–09]. Organizations for which the PSC has delegated its authority to make appointments conducted a total of 126 651 staffing activities in 2008-2009. This represents an increase of 3.7% over the previous fiscal year.

Public Service Commission 2008-2009 Annual Report

Focus group discussions also revealed that stakeholders perceive public service–wide initiatives with a degree of cynicism. In particular, the following views were expressed:

Characteristics of an Optimal People Resourcing System

According to stakeholders consulted, an optimal people resourcing system would feature the following characteristics and elements:

See Appendix C for a detailed description.



IV.   Gaps and Recommendations

Gap 1: Planning

The continued weakness in planning by many departments and agencies has yet to fully capture the links between identifying current and future business needs, assessing current workforce composition, and developing concrete people resourcing strategies.

Key Facts

In consultations with managers and HR professionals, both communities indicated the following:

What do the facts tell us?

  • As a result of the operating budget freeze and lower than expected retirement rates, the public service is unlikely to continue to grow at the same rate. This should result in fewer external opportunities, leading to the need to strategically manage internal resources to meet current and future business needs;
  • Current planning is focused on vacancy management (micro) instead of organization-wide planning (macro);
  • The availability and relevancy of data to inform planning and decision making needs to be improved;
  • HR planning is not integrated, standardized or streamlined; and
  • Churn will always be a factor within the public service, and plans need to be developed that consider current and anticipated churn rates.

Therefore, deputies heads should do the following:

Therefore, the Centre should do the following:

Gap 2: Efficiencies

There is a lack of basic tools and common processes by which sub-organizations within and especially across departments and agencies can combine their resourcing activities for greater effectiveness at lower cost.

Key Facts

Figure 1. Variations in Time to Staff Across Collective and Distinct Processes

Variations in Time to Staff Across Collective and Distinct Processes  - Figure1

Figure 1: Variations in Time to Staff Across Collective and Distinct Processes - Text version

HR professionals and managers stated the following:

What do the facts tell us?

  • While there is a general sense that the time to staff associated with both distinct and collective selection processes needs to be improved, we do not seem to make an optimal number of appointments from established staffing pools;
  • The lack of collaboration or cohesion at departmental and interdepartmental levels leads to a significant time investment by managers, HR professionals and applicants in managing distinct selection processes;
  • Using other resourcing options (established staffing pools, priority persons, etc.) can reduce staffing time from months to days;
  • It is not clear that managers are using all available options to "get their work done" and are relying on conventional staffing processes that waste time and effort;
  • Many guides and tools are not standardized or are "minimalist" in terms of the tasks that are required to staff; and
  • Although tools can be found in several venues, confusion over where the information can be found, its accuracy or even its alignment with public service needs do not facilitate managers and HR professionals' tasks.

Therefore, deputy heads must do the following:

In addition, deputy heads and their departments should:

Therefore, OCHRO should:

Use off-the-shelf Web 2.0 platforms to:

Therefore, OCHRO and the Treasury Board Secretariat's Chief Information Officer (CIO) should:

Therefore, OCHRO and the PSC should:

The Subcommittee endorses the work of the Public Service Staffing Modernization Project and encourages continued efforts toward interoperability in IT systems to further maximize the benefits of HR modernization.

Gap 3: Hiring Culture

There is a yawning gap of mutual misunderstanding and mistrust between the management community and the HR community, stemming from lack of clarity about expectations, roles and risk tolerance. This is feeding a cumulative pattern of risk aversion and inefficiency.

Key Facts

HR professionals and managers stated the following:

What do the facts tell us?

  • It is very difficult to foster collaborative relationships between managers and HR professionals when there is a lack of clarity regarding expectations, roles and responsibilities;
  • Without defined organizational risk tolerance, hiring managers and HR advisors feel personally responsible for the level of risk taken regarding staffing. This impedes the use of flexibilities and innovation; and
  • Managers do not feel well served by HR, and the high mobility rate in the HR community is seen as a contributing factor.

Therefore, deputy heads should do the following:

To address churn, employees should be encouraged to remain in a position for 3‑4 years to obtain the required depth of experience.

Therefore, the Centre should:

The Subcommittee endorses OCHRO's and the Human Resources Council's (HRC's) continued efforts to build HR capacity.

Gap 4: External Recruitment

There is a credibility gap between the rhetoric of public service branding and the real experience of would-be entrants.

Key Facts

Applicants stated the following:

What do the facts tell us?

  • There is no evidence that there is or will be a lack of good external candidates, except in certain specific niches. Therefore, the public service should aspire not just to being an employer of choice, but also to being a choosy employer that seeks people who aspire to excellence and to making a difference;
  • There is a perceived discrepancy between the public service "brand" and would-be entrants' experience;
  • Current efforts and strategies are primarily focused on entry-level recruitment; and
  • The current hiring process is cumbersome and discourages some applicants.

Therefore, deputy heads should do the following:

The Subcommittee recognizes the ongoing efforts of the PSC in improving the jobs.gc.ca website to make it more user-friendly to applicants, and further enhancements are encouraged.

Therefore, the Centre should:

Questions Deputy Heads Should Ask

In response to Gap #1: Planning, deputy heads should ask the following:

In response to Gap #2: Efficiencies, deputy heads should ask the following:

In response to Gap #3: Hiring Culture, deputy heads should ask the following:

In response to Gap #4: External Recruitment, deputy heads should ask the following:



Appendix A: Statistics Associated with the People Resourcing Continuum of How People Enter, Move Around Within and Leave the Public Service of Canada

Purpose

This document outlines data and statistics relative to the people resourcing continuum that illustrate how people enter, move around (internal mobility) and leave the public service.See footnote [20]

Context

The continuum is meant to illustrate the flow or schematic of how people move through the public service people resourcing system and was developed to support the work of the PSMAC Deputy Minister Subcommittee on People Resourcing.

The intent of this document is not that it be used for staffing and hiring decisions but rather that it be seen as a piece of a larger picture during discussions about people resourcing.

People Resourcing Continuum

There are a variety of mechanisms that allow individuals to enter the public service. They may enter through external advertised and non-advertised processes and often enter through one of several PSC-managed programs, such as the Post-Secondary Recruitment program or through general recruitment. They may also come in as temporary employees through student placement (co-op placement, the Federal Student Work Experience Program (FSWEP), and the Research Affiliate Program) or through Interchange Canada. The amount of time for which individuals are hired may vary. Some are hired as casuals or for a specified term, while others are hired as indeterminate employees.

How People Enter

The data and statistics in this document were gathered from the Public Service Commission 2008-2009 Annual Report unless otherwise stated. The information has been organized in accordance with the people resourcing continuum illustrated in Figure 2. For the purpose of this document, "how people enter" refers to all individuals affected by the public service people resourcing system, notwithstanding their status (i.e., whether they are considered to be an employee under the PSEA or not), and includes but is not limited to the following:

How People Move Around (internal mobility)

Once an individual enters the people resourcing system of the public service, chances are that throughout the individual's career, he or she will move internally through a variety of mechanisms. For example, the individual may apply to internal staffing processes or may leave one department to go and work for another. For the purpose of this document, "how people move around" (internal mobility) includes but is not limited to the following:

How People Leave

Individuals generally leave the public service through retirement; however, other forms of separations also include:

The ASD is the transfer of any work, undertaking or business of the public service to any body or corporation that is a separate employer or that is outside the public service. When individuals have been brought in temporarily, they usually leave when their term or contract has expired.

Figure 2. The People Resourcing Continuum

The People - Figure 2

Figure 2. The People Resourcing Continuum - Text version

1.    How People Enter the Public ServiceSee footnote [21]

1.1  Overall public service growth

1.2  Overall public service hiring activities

Figure 3. Overall Public Service Hiring Activities 2008-09

Overall Public Service Hiring Activities 2008-09 - Figure 3
Source: PSC hiring and staffing activities files

Figure 3. Overall Public Service Hiring Activities 2008-09 - Text version

Figure 4. Overall Public Service Hiring Activities 2007–08

Overall Public Service Hiring Activities 2007–08 - Figure 4
Source: PSC hiring and staffing activities files

Figure 4. Overall Public Service Hiring Activities 2007–08 - Text version

1.3  Recruitment of post-secondary graduates and general external recruitment

Table 1. Appointments to the Public Service

Table 1. Appointments to the Public Service
Post-Secondary Recruitment program Recruitment of Policy Leaders program General Total
Indeterminate Term Indeterminate Term Indeterminate Term Indeterminate Term
1,363 334 26 0 11,316 10,705 12,705 11,039
Total: 1,697 Total: 26 Total: 22,021 Total: 23,744

Source: Public Service Commission 2008-2009 Annual Report

1.4   Recruitment of students for temporary employment

Table 2. Federal Student Work Experience Program activities

Table 2. Federal Student Work Experience Program activities
Year 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09
Number of applicants 71,402 58,681 63,100
Hires 9,574 9,810 9,932

Source: Public Service Resourcing System and PSC hiring and staffing activities files

Table 3. Student hiring activities 2008–09

Table 3. Student hiring activities 2008–09
FSWEP RAP Co-op Total
9,932 99 4,216 14,247

Source: Public Service Commission 2008-2009 Annual Report

1.5  Time to staff

According to the Public Service Commission 2008-2009 Annual Report:

As reported in the PSC's Time to Staff in the Federal Public Service—An Update (October 2009), the average time required to staff an indeterminate advertised position was as follows:

In the same study, it was determined that there were a number of influential factors:

1.6  Temporary help services

2.    Internal MobilitySee footnote [22]

2.1  Overall public service hiring activities

Figure 5. Overall Public Service Internal Staffing Activities 2008-09

Overall Public Service Internal Staffing Activities 2008-09 - Figure 5

Figure 5. Overall Public Service Internal Staffing Activities 2008-09 - Text version

Figure 6. Overall Public Service Internal Staffing Activities 2007-08

- Overall Public Service Internal Staffing Activities 2007-08 - Figure 6
Source: PSC hiring and staffing activities files

Figure 6. Overall Public Service Internal Staffing Activities 2007-08 - Text version

2.2  Number of positions filled by priority placement

Table 4 shows the number of positions filled by priority placement.

Table 4 shows the number of positions filled by priority placement.
Priority type Carry- over See footnote (a) New cases Total (carry-over + new cases) Appointed Resigned and/or retired Expired Other removal See footnote (b) Total outflows Active at end of period

Notes:

  • Return to footnote reference (a) The number of carry-overs from March 31, 2008, differs from the number of active cases at March 31, 2008, published in the Public Service Commission's 2008-2009 Annual Report due to priority registrations received late in March 2008 and activated after the start of the new fiscal year. The validation of data to the Priority Information Management System may also be a factor.
  • Return to footnote reference (b) Priority type changes are included in "Other removal."
Leave of absence (sec. 41) 309 266 575 146 23 34 33 236 339
Layoff (sec. 41) 4 15 19 2 0 3 0 5 14
TOTAL — Statutory priorities 313 281 594 148 23 37 33 241 353
Surplus (sec. 5) 165 107 272 102 24 0 49 175 97
Disabled employee (sec. 7) 46 71 117 19 1 17 12 49 68
Medically released CF/RCMP (sec. 8) 233 259 492 205 2 44 0 251 241
Relocation of spouse (sec. 9) 348 425 773 206 13 32 137 388 385
Reinstatement to higher level (sec. 10) 117 105 222 31 3 111 1 146 76
Governor General's exempt staff (sec. 6) 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 0
TOTAL — Regulatory priorities 910 967 1,877 563 43 205 199 1,010 867
GRAND TOTAL 1,223 1,248 2,471 711 66 242 232 1,251 1,220

2.3 Internal time to staff

The findings of PSC's Time to Staff in the Federal Public Service—An Update (October 2009) are consistent with the findings of PSC's analysis of the time elapsed between job postings and first notification of appointment for internal indeterminate advertised staffing processes on Publiservice (see Table 5).

The analysis of Publiservice data uses a different methodology and shows that the average time to staff for distinct processes dropped from 18.9 weeks (132 calendar days) in 2007–08 to 17.7 weeks (124 calendar days) in 2008–09.

The average time to staff for collective processes remained essentially the same, i.e. 22.1 weeks (155 calendar days) in 2007-2008 and 22 weeks (154 calendar days) in 2008-09.

Table 5. Average Length of Time for Internal Indeterminate Staffing Processes

Table 5. Average Length of Time for Internal Indeterminate Staffing Processes
Type of process Distinct processes Collective processes
Year 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09

Source: PSC Staffing Management Accountability Framework statistics

Notes:

Average time to staff (in days) See footnote 1 121 132 124 142 155 154
Average time to staff (in days) for "best performing organizations" See footnote 2  93 102  80 100 117 106

2.4    Internal mobility in the public service

OCHRO's People Management Information Analysis and Survey Operations indicates the following:

2.5  Employees on leave without pay

Table 6. Number of Employees on Leave Without Pay 2000–09

Table 6. Number of Employees on Leave Without Pay 2000–09
March Active Leave Without Pay % Leave Without Pay Total

Note: Data are from each year-end, March 31, 2000, to March 31, 2009.

2000 152,069  7,579 4.7% 159,648
2001 161,505  8,511 5.0% 170,016
2002 170,779  9,831 5.4% 180,610
2003 174,581 10,425 5.6% 185,006
2004 177,136 11,042 5.8% 188,178
2005 184,083 12,077 6.1% 196,160
2006 189,280 12,813 6.3% 202,093
2007 192,683 13,809 6.6% 206,492
2008 200,575 14,678 6.8% 215,253
2009 209,523 15,395 6.8% 224,918

2.6  Days worked versus days paid

Table 7. Paid Days Worked Versus Days Paid Not Worked

Table 7. Paid Days Worked Versus Days Paid Not Worked
FTE Paid Days Per FTE Total Paid Days Total Paid Leave Days % of Paid Days Not Worked Total Paid Holidays % of Paid Days Not Worked Including Paid Holidays
193,109.3 260 50,208,412.8 7,620,179 15.2% 2,124,202.08 19.4%

Source: OCHRO's People Management Information Analysis and Survey Operations

FTE converts all employees into units representing a full-time employee working for the whole year, regardless of their full-time or part-time status or whether they worked for a full year or for part of the year.

An employee's FTE is reduced when the employee works for part of the year or part-time. For example, if an employee has worked only 6 months out of 12, the employee is considered as 0.5 FTE instead of 1 FTE.

If an employee works 25 hours a week instead of a normal work week of 37.5 hours, the employee is considered as 0.667 FTE instead of 1 FTE. An employee who works 25 hours a week instead of a normal work week of 37.5 hours and has worked only 6 months out of 12 is considered as 0.333 FTE instead of 1 FTE.

2.7  Intradepartmental and Interdepartmental MobilitySee footnote [24]

Figure 7. CPA Indeterminate Mobility Rates Within and Between Departments

CPA Indeterminate Mobility Rates Within and Between Departments - Figure 7
Note: Data are from each year-end, March 31, 2000, to March 31, 2009.

Figure 7. CPA Indeterminate Mobility Rates Within and Between Departments - Text version

2.8 Promotion and transfer rates

Figure 8. CPA Promotion and Transfer Rates

CPA Promotion and Transfer Rates - Figure 8
Note: Data are from each year-end, March 31, 2000, to March 31 2009.

Figure 8. CPA Promotion and Transfer Rates - Text version

3. How People Leave the Public Service

3.1 Departures from the Core Public Administration

Figure 9. Indeterminate CPA Departure Rates by Type

Indeterminate CPA Departure Rates by Type - Figure 9
Note: Data are from each year-end, March 31, 2000, to March 31 2009.

Figure 9. Indeterminate CPA Departure Rates by Type - Text version

3.2 Other separations

Reasons for other separations are resignations, dismissals, layoffs, ASD, movement to a separate employer and others (see Table 8).

Table 8. Volumes of Separations in the Core Public Administration by Reason

Table 8. Volumes of Separations in the Core Public Administration by Reason
Reason 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09

Notes:

  • Return to footnote reference ASD—Alternative service delivery initiative is the transfer of any work, undertaking or business of the public service to any body or corporation that is a separate employer or that is outside the public service.
  • Return to footnote reference The dismissal category displayed in the above table includes rejection during probation. Below are the numbers for rejection during probation by fiscal year.
Resignation 1,695 1,838 1,532 1,254 1,224 1,241 1,379 1,622 1,692 1,941
Dismissal 108 77 112 120 148 126 138 115 147 183
Layoff 82 54 43 79 35 32 29 11 16 31
ASD* 114 4 58 243 31 9 0 512 6 228
To Separate Employer 54 99 257 226 228 281 431 835 598 618
All other 447 337 250 260 308 274 334 299 311 313
Total 2,500 2,409 2,252 2,182 1,974 1,963 2,311 3,394 2,770 3,314

Table 9. Rejection during Probation by Fiscal Year

Table 9. Rejection during Probation by Fiscal Year
1999– 2000 2000– 01 2001– 02 2002– 03 2003– 04 2004– 05 2005– 06 2006– 07 2007– 08 2008– 09
20 30 25 36 50 32 36 32 74 100

Figure 10 indicates other separation volumes in the CPA by voluntary and involuntary reason.

Figure 10. Other CPA Separation Volumes by Reason

Other CPA Separation Volumes by Reason - Figure 10

Figure 10. Other CPA Separation Volumes by Reason - Text version

Note: Data are from each year-end, March 31, 2000, to March 31 2009.

Figure 11 indicates other separation volumes in the CPA by voluntary and involuntary reason, separated as percentages.

Please note that there is no exact standard for defining what voluntary and involuntary departures are; the information provided in Figure 11 should be used as an approximation only.

Figure 11. Other Separation Volumes by Reason Separated as Percentages

Other Separation Volumes by Reason Separated as Percentages - Figure 11
Note: Data are from each year-end, March 31, 2000, to March 31 2009.

Figure 11. Other Separation Volumes by Reason Separated as Percentages - Text version

Table 10 indicates the indeterminate departure rate by type of departure and department.

Table 10. Indeterminate Departure Rates by Department for 2008–09

Table 10. Indeterminate Departure Rates by Department for 2008–09
Department/Organization Other
Separations
Retirements Total

Note: Data are from each year-end, March 31, 2000, to March 31 2009.

Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency 0.4% 2.5% 2.9%
Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food 1.7% 3.2% 5.0%
Public Health Agency of Canada 1.6% 1.5% 3.2%
Canadian Artists and Producers Professional Relations Tribunal 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%
Canadian Transportation Agency 2.8% 8.9% 11.7%
Library and Archives of Canada 1.0% 5.0% 6.1%
Canadian International Trade Tribunal 1.4% 2.9% 4.3%
Canada Border Services Agency 1.2% 2.4% 3.6%
Courts Administration Service 0.9% 3.2% 4.1%
Canadian Dairy Commission 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%
Office of the Chief Electoral Officer 1.8% 1.8% 3.7%
Canada School of Public Service 1.0% 4.0% 5.0%
Canadian Grain Commission 1.5% 2.8% 4.3%
Canadian Intergovernmental Conference Secretariat 0.0% 9.5% 9.5%
Canada Industrial Relations Board 2.2% 4.4% 6.7%
Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages 2.1% 4.1% 6.2%
Copyright Board 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%
Military Police Complaints Commission 0.0% 16.7% 16.7%
Canadian Space Agency 1.8% 1.5% 3.3%
Department of Human Resources and Skills Development 2.1% 4.2% 6.3%
NAFTA Secretariat – Canadian Section 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%
Office of the Co-ordinator, Status of Women 7.2% 1.2% 8.4%
Department of Fisheries and Oceans 1.4% 3.9% 5.3%
Department of National Defence 1.5% 3.3% 4.8%
Department of the Environment 1.4% 3.3% 4.7%
Department of Industry 1.1% 3.8% 4.9%
Department of Veterans Affairs 1.3% 3.2% 4.5%
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency 2.7% 2.0% 4.8%
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade 1.4% 3.8% 5.2%
Canadian Forces Grievance Board 4.9% 0.0% 4.9%
Department of Finance 2.6% 2.8% 5.4%
Office of the Commissioner for Federal Judicial Affairs 0.4% 4.7% 5.2%
National Farm Products Council 0.0% 6.7% 6.7%
Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec 0.5% 2.7% 3.2%
Office of the Governor General's Secretary 1.3% 2.0% 3.3%
Canadian Human Rights Commission 4.5% 5.1% 9.6%
Public Service Human Resources Management Agency of Canada 0.8% 5.8% 6.6%
Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development 2.4% 3.2% 5.6%
Indian Specific Claims Commission 17.1% 5.7% 22.9%
Canadian International Development Agency 1.1% 3.7% 4.8%
International Joint Commission 4.2% 12.5% 16.7%
Department of Citizenship and Immigration 1.0% 2.9% 3.9%
Office of Infrastructure of Canada 0.0% 0.9% 0.9%
Office of the Information Commissioner of Canada 0.0% 5.2% 5.2%
Indian Residential Schools Resolution Canada 2.6% 0.6% 3.2%
Immigration and Refugee Board 3.8% 2.7% 6.4%
Department of Justice 1.1% 1.9% 3.0%
Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying 0.0% 4.5% 4.5%
Hazardous Materials Information Review Commission 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%
Department of Transport 1.3% 3.7% 4.9%
Department of Health 2.5% 2.2% 4.6%
National Parole Board 0.9% 4.8% 5.8%
Department of Canadian Heritage 0.8% 2.5% 3.2%
Privy Council Office 0.9% 2.0% 2.9%
Correctional Service of Canada 1.4% 2.9% 4.3%
Passport Canada 4.4% 1.7% 6.1%
Public Service Commission 0.9% 4.9% 5.8%
Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness 0.6% 2.6% 3.2%
Canadian Human Rights Tribunal 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%
Patented Medicine Prices Review Board 7.1% 2.4% 9.5%
Assisted Human Reproduction Agency of Canada 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%
Royal Canadian Mounted Police (Civilian Staff) 2.8% 2.9% 5.6%
Registry of the Competition Tribunal 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%
Royal Canadian Mounted Police External Review Committee 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%
Royal Canadian Mounted Police Public Complaints Commission 15.4% 0.0% 15.4%
Department of Natural Resources 1.0% 3.8% 4.8%
Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission 1.2% 6.7% 7.9%
Statistics Canada 1.0% 4.7% 5.7%
Office of the Registrar of the Supreme Court of Canada 0.0% 4.1% 4.1%
Department of Public Works and Government Services 1.1% 4.7% 5.8%
Transportation Appeal Tribunal of Canada 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%
Treasury Board Secretariat 1.2% 3.5% 4.7%
Canadian Transportation Accident Investigation and Safety Board 1.0% 4.9% 5.8%
Public Service Staffing Tribunal 4.2% 0.0% 4.2%
Department of Western Economic Diversification 3.8% 3.8% 7.6%

Appendix A1—Comparison of Mobility Analysis Methodologies of the Public Service Commission and the Office of the Chief Human Resources Officer

Comparison of Mobility Analysis Methodologies of the Public Service Commission and the Office of the Chief Human Resources Officer
Population Base Public Service Commission Office of the Chief Human Resources Officer
  • Indeterminate employees in organizations under the PSEA (includes most of Core Public Administration and a few separate employers: Indian Oil and Gas Canada, the National Energy Board, etc.)
  • Excludes the Canada Border Services Agency and other organizations not part of the PSEA universe for the last 11 years.
  • Does not include employees on leave-without-pay
  • Indeterminate public service employees (includes only the Core Public Administration)
  • Includes employees on leave‑without-pay (7 per cent of the population)
Population Flows Hires
  • Does not include hires
Promotions
  • Includes promotions (including reclassifications)
  • Includes promotions (including reclassifications)
Lateral and Downward Transfers
  • Includes all lateral and downward transfers
  • Includes all lateral and downward transfers
Acting Appointments
  • Includes all acting appointments
  • Does not include acting appointments
Separations
  • Does not include separations
  • Includes separations
  • Return to footnote reference 2 (a) From outside of the federal public service, term employees becoming indeterminate and indeterminate employees moving from organizations not under the PSEA into organizations within the PSEA universe, e.g., from the CRA to the CPA.


Appendix B: Methodology

With a view to advancing key people management priorities, the Chief Human Resources Officer invited members of PSMAC to establish four subcommittees and examine recommendations on different areas of people management. The PSMAC Subcommittee on People Resourcing was thus created and started to identify means of improving the public service's ability to place the right people in the right jobs at the right time.

For the purpose of this exercise, the key stakeholders of the federal public service's people resourcing system are managers, HR professionals, candidates/employees and system-wide elements. The third category includes public service employees/workers, feeder groups, as well as candidates to public service jobs. Together, they form the human capital required by organizations to deliver on their mandate. The system-wide element refers to the pan–public service dimension of the system, which would benefit from a collaborative and coherent approach. All of these stakeholders interact with one another as depicted in Figure 12.

Figure 12. Stakeholder Interaction Within People Resourcing

Stakeholder Interaction Within People Resourcing - Figure12

Figure 12. Stakeholder Interaction Within People Resourcing - Text version

We considered that all these stakeholders needed to be engaged early in our study in order to allow for the end-results to be linked to existing needs, challenges and areas of priority. The Subcommittee solicited the input and opinion of HR professionals and managers to clarify the characteristics of an optimal people resourcing system, to assess the current state of people resourcing in the public service, and to identify gaps and strategies to address these gaps.

Since the results of the Subcommittee should be based on evidence, it consulted previous work, projects, reports and initiatives conducted on the same issues and used them as building blocks for this report, including the following:

Characteristics of an Optimal People Resourcing System

The following stakeholders provided their views—at a high level—on what they consider to be an efficient and effective people resourcing system:

The brainstorming session resulted in the identification of six characteristics of an optimal people resourcing system.

Gaps

Following these brainstorming sessions, existing material (e.g., past focus group results, surveys, reports, etc.) was reviewed with a purpose of compiling a list of gaps perceived by managers and HR professionals. The list was used as a prompt for focus groups that included the following participants:

The Subcommittee recognized that its objective is not to address all identifiable gaps, but rather to identify the gaps that are the most important and require immediate attention, based on current and future needs. In this light, participants were asked to select their top three gaps in order to focus on the most pressing issues perceived by these communities.

The following questions were presented to participants for their consideration:

This exercise led to the development of narratives that provided committee members with a raw testimony of issues and gaps in the existing system. In addition, it provided committee members with a set of priorities and statements that illustrated each one.

Narratives were also drawn from the following:

The narrative for the system-wide perspective was developed based on an analysis of the themes, gaps and priorities that were discussed during the focus groups sessions, one-on-one consultations and available analyses and reference materials.

Following the identification and validation of the high priority gaps, it was determined that finding solutions for systemic gaps would generate the most significant improvement to the existing people resourcing system and lead to a more coordinated, cost-effective and collaborative approach.

Recommendations

Once the gaps were identified, an additional series of mixed focus groups were organized with the following partners:

The mixed format of the focus groups allowed us to benefit from a variety of experience and increased the likelihood that the proposed solutions would be aligned both with their needs and with those of the system.

The focus groups validated the gaps identified by the first set of consultations and then discussed a set of strategies to address these common gaps.

Both focus groups were asked to suggest solutions to the first gap:

While the remaining gaps were split between the focus groups as follows:

Focus group 1:

Focus group 2:

This approach proved to be more conducive to results, allowing us to obtain the level of information we were seeking.

Four recommendations are presented in this report. Given the current environmental context, these are considered the timeliest and attain balance between achieving tangible outcomes in a relatively short time span and longer-term opportunities.

With the exception of the recommendation pertaining to branding, the recommendations presented in this report are solutions jointly identified and discussed during the focus groups.



Appendix C: Characteristics of an Optimal People Resourcing System

According to the stakeholders consulted, an optimal people resourcing system would feature the following characteristics and elements:

1. Flexibility and Efficiency

An optimal people resourcing system should be as follows:

2. Effective Workforce Planning and Management

Effective workforce planning and management in this context is a continuous process that must include and integrate all elements pertaining to employee management, including the following:

For example, better planning and management of on-boarding activities can greatly enhance employee performance and retention.

3. A Distinctive Brand

To become an employer of choice in a competitive labour market and to be able to attract candidates at various stages of their career (e.g., post-secondary recruits, mid-career), the public service must present a distinctive, positive and realistic image that will influence Canadians' perception of a career in the federal public service.

An effective branding and marketing strategy contributes to an optimal people resourcing system by:

4. Healthy Relationships

Healthy and constructive relationships in this context are based on trust where there is a mutual understanding of the stakeholders' needs, expectations and objectives.

An optimal people resourcing system must support trusting relationships between the HR community and managers, central agencies and departments, national headquarters with the regions and interdepartmental partnerships to allow for:

5. Reliable and Practical Tools

A people resourcing system must build on current tools and systems and link directly to public service renewal (renewing the workplace), the Public Service Staffing Modernization Project, and existing collective recruitment tools (e.g., the Post-Secondary Recruitment campaign). Where feasible, the system should include standardized tools that strengthen departments' partnerships, achieve economies of scale and limit duplication of efforts, such as the Common Human Resources Business Process.

By leveraging tools and technology, the public service will be taking advantage of a variety of mechanisms that facilitate the resourcing process. These mechanisms will enrich the candidates' experience and enable the federal public service to attract the type of candidates it needs, as well as provide departments with the tools to support just-in-time staffing.

Such systems and tools should be interoperable and user-friendly, and provide reliable data to facilitate talent management and data transfer. They will:

6. Sound Governance

An optimal people resourcing system should leverage existing governance systems and structures (e.g., Human Resources Community Operating Model).31

Sound governance in people management requires the following:


Return to footnote reference[1] For definitions of key terms, see the Glossary.

Return to footnote reference[2] The data used in the quantitative analysis was provided by the Public Service Commission and the Office of the Chief Human Resources Officer at the Treasury Board Secretariat (the Secretariat).

Return to footnote reference[3] Public Service Commission 2007-2008 Annual Report and Public Service Commission 2008-2009 Annual Report (draft).

Return to footnote reference[4] Office of the Chief Human Resources Officer (OCHRO) people management information analysis.

Return to footnote reference[5] OCHRO people management information analysis.

Return to footnote reference[6] PSC CR-03 and AS-02 inventory advertisements.

Return to footnote reference[7] OCHRO people management information analysis.

Return to footnote reference[8] PSC, Time to Staff in the Federal Public Service—An Update, October 2009.

Return to footnote reference[9] Public Service Commission 2008-2009 Annual Report.

Return to footnote reference[10] Diagnostic of the State of HRM Capacity Challenges Facing Line Managers, February 2008, and focus group consultations.

Return to footnote reference[11] Further information is available at chrbp-pocrh.tbs-sct.gc.ca/.

Return to footnote reference[12] Focus group consultations.

Return to footnote reference[13] Focus group consultations.

Return to footnote reference[14] Public Service Commission 2007-2008 Annual Report.

Return to footnote reference[15] Focus group consultations.

Return to footnote reference[16] Focus group consultations.

Return to footnote reference[17] Interviews at the 8th Annual National Managers' Community Development Forum, 2008.

Return to footnote reference[18] Focus group consultations.

Return to footnote reference[19] Public Service Commission 2009-2010 Annual Report.

Return to footnote reference[20] Please note that the data contained in this document have been provided by the PSC Data Services and Analysis Directorate and the Secretariat. Where the source of the information is the PSC, the definition of the public service is the same as the definition in the PSEA. For the information provided by the Secretariat, the public service is defined as the Core Public Administration (CPA).

Return to footnote reference[21] The data in this section has been provided by the Public Service Commission 2008-2009 Annual Report and as a result refers to the public service at it is defined by the PSEA.

Return to footnote reference[22] A table that outlines the differences between how mobility is defined for the PSC and OCHRO can be found in Appendix A1.

Return to footnote reference[23] Please note that this statement refers to the Core Public Administration.

Return to footnote reference[24] The data is this section has been provided by OCHRO; as a result, the public service is defined as the Core Public Administration.


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