Message to Deputy Minister & Heads of Agencies from the Secretary of the Treasury Board and Comptroller General of Canada, March
22, 2002
On May 22nd, 2002 we will proceed with our second Public
Service-wide Employee Survey. This date ensures identical timing (three
years out) from the first PS-wide Employee Survey. We are advised that by
proceeding in this fashion, we facilitate maximum accuracy for comparison
between the first and second Surveys. The closing date for responding to
this second Employee Survey is June 21, 2002.
It is important to administer this second Survey because:
- a commitment was made to follow-up on the 1999 Employee Survey with a
second Survey;
- it will provide us with a tool to obtain input of employees on
organizational effectiveness, well-being and overall climate;
- it will facilitate measurement: how have we done since the 1999
Survey?
- it will engage employees across the Public Service in achieving our
aim of being an exemplary employer;
- it will confirm leadership commitment to transparency and action;
- it will help foster the belief that together we can make change
happen;
- ultimately, and very importantly, it will improve service to
Canadians.
All departments and agencies participating in the Second Survey are
those where Treasury Board is the Employer. After the Survey is
administered (May 22nd - June 21st), Statistics
Canada will analyze the data and prepare a full report for PS-wide
distribution by the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat. This report is
slated for November 2002.
Separate Employers and Crown Agencies are welcome to use the
instrument, thereby saving development costs. However, negotiation for
this service on the part of Crowns or Separate Employers must be done
directly with Statistics Canada (Mr. Eddy Ross: (613) 951-3240). Results
would be reported to any such organisations separately by Statistics
Canada.
Developing the second instrument
Since August 28th a relatively small but representative
working group made up of a cross section of large, medium and small
departments (including Statistics Canada), small agencies, central
agencies, unions and outside advisors has been developing the second
Survey questionnaire. It should be noted that the involvement of union
representatives on the working group has led to their commitment to
encourage their members to fill in the survey.
Themes
Themes explored in the 1999 Survey are continued in the second Survey
such as: Harassment and Discrimination, Workload, Career Development,
Communications, Leadership, Service to Clients, Staffing, etc. Over 50% of
the questions from the 1999 Survey are repeated verbatim. Some others have
been slightly revised and others not retained. For greater clarity and
more meaningful data, questions were also added to expand on themes
pursued in the 1999 Employee Survey.
New themes have also been introduced to explore other areas of
workplace concerns such as: Official Languages, Health and Safety, Values
and Ethics, Retention, Labour Management Relations, etc.
Survey Champions
All departments/agencies (TB as employer) have nominated Champions.
They are the direct link between organizations and the TBS Survey Project
Team from the development phase to post-survey initiatives. Champions will
work with employees and their managers in their respective organisations
to promote the Survey, help roll out the results and ensure follow-up
action.
Consultation and testing
We have ensured that this second Employee Survey instrument has
undergone wide consultation and testing. For example, in November 2001,
the draft questionnaire underwent focus group testing across the country
and revisions were made. In January 2002 we then shared the draft
questionnaire with departments and agencies and received input through
Survey Champions which led to additional improvements.
TBS support to departments and agencies
On March 14, 2002, we met with Survey Champions and Communication
Advisors to distribute the TBS Communications Strategy and Action Plan,
as well as a model Departmental/Agency Implementation Plan
supported by Qs and As. Champions also received the fourth edition
of HR Strategies in Times of Change. This is a compendium of
initiatives undertaken by a number of departments and agencies in response
to the findings of the first PS-wide Survey.
Updates on Survey activity are being sent to Champions regularly by the
TBS Survey Project Team, and a dedicated e-mail service is provided for
both Survey Champions and TBS.
Your TBS Contacts
TBS is committed to supporting departments and agencies in this
initiative. For information or advice on the second Employee Survey your
Champions may call the following persons.
- Graham Howell: Project Manager (613) 952-5249
- Sylvie Lance Roussel (613) 946-9310
One of our goals is to increase the employee response rate for the
second Survey to over 60%. You will recall that 104,000 employees (54%)
responded to the last Survey. We look to you, your Champion, your managers
and Bargaining Agents to help make this happen.
Frank Claydon
Secretary of the Treasury Board and Comptroller General of Canada
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