2017 Public Service Employee Annual Survey Results for Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada 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 44 35 4 4 7 4 1 84 11 131
2017 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 46 32 10 6 4 2 0 80 10 240
2017 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 38 42 7 5 3 4 0 84 9 111
2017 More than 20 years in current department or agency 37 30 18 8 4 2 0 69 13 54
2014 Less than 3 years in current department or agency 55 26 8 2 2 6 1 87 4 157
2014 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 40 36 12 5 2 4 0 80 7 303
2014 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 39 40 9 6 4 2 0 81 10 144
2014 More than 20 years in current department or agency 43 32 11 5 5 5 0 79 10 83

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 49 38 3 4 6 0 0 87 10 131
2017 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 31 42 10 10 6 1 0 74 17 240
2017 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 41 40 7 7 4 0 0 81 11 111
2017 More than 20 years in current department or agency 26 40 11 14 9 0 0 66 23 55
2014 Less than 3 years in current department or agency 59 28 4 7 2 0 0 87 9 157
2014 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 49 36 8 5 1 0 0 86 6 303
2014 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 46 41 6 3 3 0 0 87 7 144
2014 More than 20 years in current department or agency 51 31 10 2 5 1 0 83 7 83

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 45 28 11 8 6 1 1 75 14 131
2017 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 32 37 14 11 5 0 0 69 16 239
2017 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 32 39 13 10 6 0 0 71 16 111
2017 More than 20 years in current department or agency 33 31 16 13 7 0 0 64 20 55
2014 Less than 3 years in current department or agency 32 38 14 9 6 0 1 71 15 156
2014 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 29 36 17 10 7 0 0 65 18 303
2014 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 31 37 13 8 10 0 1 68 18 143
2014 More than 20 years in current department or agency 29 30 22 14 5 0 0 59 19 83

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 37 36 9 7 8 2 0 75 16 132
2017 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 25 38 16 13 7 1 0 63 21 238
2017 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 25 49 8 8 10 0 0 74 18 112
2017 More than 20 years in current department or agency 20 23 31 17 8 0 0 44 25 55

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 25 11 5 5 1 1 78 11 131
2017 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 37 35 9 11 7 0 1 73 18 240
2017 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 34 39 12 7 5 1 2 75 13 112
2017 More than 20 years in current department or agency 39 27 17 9 6 2 0 68 15 55
2014 Less than 3 years in current department or agency 41 27 10 11 9 1 1 70 20 156
2014 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 42 30 11 10 5 0 2 74 15 303
2014 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 39 36 9 8 7 0 1 75 16 144
2014 More than 20 years in current department or agency 37 28 22 8 2 0 2 66 11 83

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 48 32 9 4 7 0 0 80 11 131
2017 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 29 37 10 14 9 0 0 67 23 241
2017 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 28 35 19 12 6 0 0 63 18 112
2017 More than 20 years in current department or agency 19 44 11 16 9 0 0 64 25 54
2014 Less than 3 years in current department or agency 43 30 12 10 5 0 0 73 15 157
2014 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 28 41 12 14 3 0 0 70 18 303
2014 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 33 39 16 8 4 0 0 72 12 144
2014 More than 20 years in current department or agency 34 34 14 8 10 0 0 68 18 82

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 50 32 8 6 4 0 0 82 11 132
2017 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 44 37 7 8 4 0 0 81 12 239
2017 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 42 38 12 3 4 1 0 81 7 111
2017 More than 20 years in current department or agency 41 44 9 5 0 0 0 85 5 55
2014 Less than 3 years in current department or agency 51 36 9 1 2 1 0 88 4 157
2014 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 43 37 12 5 3 1 0 81 8 303
2014 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 48 36 7 6 2 1 0 84 9 144
2014 More than 20 years in current department or agency 44 34 15 4 2 0 0 78 7 82
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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 62 22 4 7 5 0 0 84 13 131
2017 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 58 25 6 5 4 0 0 84 10 239
2017 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 54 34 6 5 1 0 0 89 6 111
2017 More than 20 years in current department or agency 44 29 3 11 13 0 0 72 24 53

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 19 6 6 6 0 0 82 12 131
2017 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 56 25 10 3 5 0 0 82 8 239
2017 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 43 39 8 8 0 1 0 83 8 112
2017 More than 20 years in current department or agency 49 18 12 10 11 0 0 67 21 51

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 44 28 10 13 5 0 0 72 18 131
2017 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 29 32 15 16 7 1 0 62 23 238
2017 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 28 31 13 14 12 2 0 60 27 112
2017 More than 20 years in current department or agency 27 33 11 9 21 0 0 60 30 53

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 25 36 17 11 7 3 1 63 19 131
2017 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 24 34 23 13 5 0 0 58 18 237
2017 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 23 38 19 10 9 2 0 62 19 112
2017 More than 20 years in current department or agency 24 23 30 16 7 0 0 47 23 51

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 11 19 44 19 5 1 1 30 25 130
2017 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 3 16 38 28 14 0 1 20 42 235
2017 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 7 17 47 21 7 0 0 24 29 110
2017 More than 20 years in current department or agency 5 13 47 18 18 0 0 18 36 51

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 7 10 39 32 13 0 0 45 16 130
2017 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 9 25 41 18 7 0 0 25 34 236
2017 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 4 22 42 24 6 0 1 30 27 109
2017 More than 20 years in current department or agency 9 18 44 15 11 0 4 27 28 55
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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 19 81 131
2017 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 21 79 235
2017 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 16 84 110
2017 More than 20 years in current department or agency 15 85 53
2014 Less than 3 years in current department or agency 13 87 157
2014 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 22 78 302
2014 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 14 86 144
2014 More than 20 years in current department or agency 18 82 83

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 59 23
2017 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 50 46
2014 Less than 3 years in current department or agency 51 20
2014 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 59 66
2014 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 51 20
2014 More than 20 years in current department or agency 49 14

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 41 23
2017 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 48 46
2017 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 40 16
2014 Less than 3 years in current department or agency 45 20
2014 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 44 66
2014 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 47 20
2014 More than 20 years in current department or agency 57 14

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 12 46
2014 Less than 3 years in current department or agency 0 20
2014 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 8 66

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 23
2017 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 0 46
2017 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 0 16
2014 Less than 3 years in current department or agency 0 20
2014 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 0 20
2014 More than 20 years in current department or agency 0 14

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

Survey year Demographic  
(%)
Total responses
2017 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 0 16

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

Survey year Demographic  
(%)
Total responses
2017 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 0 16
2014 Less than 3 years in current department or agency 0 20
2014 More than 20 years in current department or agency 0 14
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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 10 90 132
2017 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 15 85 239
2017 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 13 87 111
2017 More than 20 years in current department or agency 15 85 55
2014 Less than 3 years in current department or agency 4 96 157
2014 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 5 95 303
2014 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 5 95 143
2014 More than 20 years in current department or agency 10 90 83

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

Survey year Demographic  
(%)
Total responses
2017 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 51 35
2017 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 51 14

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 49 12
2017 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 63 35
2014 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 94 16

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 12
2017 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 0 35
2017 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 0 14
2014 3 to 10 years in current department or agency 0 16

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

Survey year Demographic  
(%)
Total responses
2017 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 0 14
2014 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 11 to 20 years in current department or agency 0 14