1) Q. Why conduct a third survey?
A. The survey is a tool to obtain employee opinion on such issues as
service delivery, organizational effectiveness, well-being and overall climate
across the public service. The 2005 Survey engages employees in helping identify
ways to improve the workplace, as well as services provided to Canadians.
It is a recognized best practice for employers to conduct regular surveys of
employees.
The 2005 Survey also helps us measure progress made since 1999 and 2002, when
we held our first and second Public Service Employee Surveys.
2) Q. When and how was the survey conducted?
A. The survey was conducted between November 2 and December 22, 2005.
The questionnaire was provided to employees in a paper copy format. Addressed
return envelopes were enclosed in the package, allowing employees to return
completed questionnaires directly to Statistics Canada. Statistics Canada
accepted completed questionnaires for several weeks following the established
survey period.
3) Q. Who participated in the survey?
A. The survey questionnaire was distributed to all employees in
departments and agencies for which Treasury Board (TB) represents the employer.
Employees meeting the following status were eligible to participate in the 2005
Survey:
- Indeterminate employees (permanent)
- Seasonal employees
- Employees on assignment
- Term employees
- Casual employees
4) Q. How many people participated in the survey?
A. More than 106,000 employees responded, a response rate of 58.9%
compared to 57.8% in 2002 and 54.6% in 1999. This provides a solid basis for
analysis and comparison. Over 180,000 employees were invited to participate in
the survey in Canada and abroad.
5) Q. I did not fill out the survey. Can I fill it out now?
A. No as the survey is completed and .the results have already been
tabulated. However, there will be more opportunities to give input and employee
consultation. After the results are released, managers, supervisors, employees
and their union representatives will work together to bring about change and
improvement in each workplace throughout the public service.
To do this, the Public Service Human Resources Management Agency of Canada
has established a Research Advisory Committee comprising representatives
from departments, agencies and bargaining agents to evaluate and analyse the
results during the summer. The committee has identified possible areas for
analysis and research which could lead to recommendations and follow-up
initiatives in the late fall.
6) Q. Who administers the survey and what about confidentiality?
A. Statistics Canada administered the survey on behalf of the
departments and agencies and the Public Service Human Resources Management
Agency of Canada. In accordance with the Statistics Act, Statistics
Canada guarantees confidentiality of responses and that individual
respondents will not be identified.
7) Q. Who may I contact for information about what is going on in my own
department/agency with respect to the survey and actions to be taken in light of
the results?
A. Early in this process, deputy ministers and agency heads identified
Survey Champions and Co-ordinators to oversee the implementation of the survey
in their respective department or agency. The name of the Survey Champion and
Survey Co-ordinator responsible for your department or agency can be found on
the survey Web site at www.psagency-agencefp.gc.ca/survey-sondage/2005/index_e.asp
. If you have difficulty contacting the survey champion or co-ordinator you may
wish to speak directly with your manager or use the toll-free number as
alternatives: Toll-free Info. Line (1-866-558-2947) and TTY (1-800-465-7735): 8
AM - 8 PM EST as of June 23.
8) Q. How may I obtain additional information on the survey?
A. You can obtain further information on the administration and
co-ordination of the survey by:
9) Q. Can members of the public have access to the survey results?
A. Yes. The 2005 Survey results (both government-wide data and
departmental- and agency-level data) were made available to members of the
public on June 23 at 10:00 a.m. Members of the public can access both the public
service-wide results and departmental/agency results using the Survey’s Web
site www.psagency-agencefp.gc.ca/survey-sondage/2005/index_e.asp.
10) Q. What tools are available to help managers analyse the survey
results? A. A Guide entitled “Mini-Guide for Managers and Supervisors”
is available on the survey’s Web site at www.psagency-agencefp.gc.ca/survey-sondage/2005/manager-guide_e.asp.
It provides information and guidance for managers/supervisors to undertake
various follow-up activities.
11) Q. What's in it for me as an employee?
A. The Survey provides valuable information about how to make each
branch, sector, department, agency, and the federal public service as a whole, a
better workplace. Each person can use this information to engage in a dialogue
with his or her supervisor or manager on identifying ways to improve the
workplace.
12) Q. What about follow-up?
A. After the results are released, managers, supervisors, employees
and their union representatives will work together to bring about change and
improvement in each workplace throughout the public service. At the same time,
deputy ministers and heads of agencies and their management teams will also take
action to improve their organizations as a whole. As well, there will be action
taken across the entire federal public service.
To do this, the Public Service Human Resources Management Agency of Canada has
established a Research Advisory Committee comprising representatives from
departments, agencies and bargaining agents, to evaluate and analyse the results
during the summer. The committee will make recommendations for follow-up
initiatives in late fall.
Overall, the key to successful follow-up is timely, collaborative action. The
following are some principles/suggestions that can help guide post-survey
activities:
- Study the Survey results and initiate dialogue involving managers,
supervisors, teams and other stakeholders, such as unions, in order to
identify priorities.
- Move as soon as possible from dialogue to action.
- Take individual, team and collective ownership at all levels.
- Keep it achievable. Don't try to do too much.
- Ensure transparency, be inclusive.
- Maintain communications (upward and downward).
- Establish accountability for improvement efforts and results.
- Keep checking on your progress.
13) Q. What was done as a result of past surveys?
A. Here are a few examples:
- Treasury Board Secretariat and the Public Service Human Resources
Management Agency of Canada have conducted a pilot project to identify
drivers of workplace well-being/employee engagement in these two
organizations.
- The Public Service Human Resources Management Agency of Canada has
designed learning and communication tools and has distributed them to
departments, including an on-line interactive course on harassment
prevention and resolution with a focus on communication and conflict
resolution.
- A committee of deputy ministers is reviewing the requirements of language
training and second language evaluation including considerations of
employment equity groups.
14) Q. Why did this survey not allow for free-form or open-ended
responses?
A. There is no feasible way to capture or effectively analyse
free-form or open-ended responses, given that there were more than 100,000
responses. Open, frank dialogue between managers, employees and union
representatives will allow us to obtain additional feedback.
15) Q. Why are a paper copies of the public service-wide report made when
the results are being posted on the Agency’s Web site?
A. Not every employee has access to a computer. It is important for
all employees to see the results of the survey.
Several departments and agencies have chosen to give copies only to their
employees who do not have a computer. The balance of their employees are
directed to view the results on their own Intranet site. The report is being
printed on recycled paper and is available in electronic format through
departmental/agency Web sites, as well as through PSHRMAC’s Web site. As well,
certain departments and agencies have chosen to receive only a limited number of
hard-copy reports, for those employees who do not have access to a computer.
16) Q. Are the survey results available in alternative formats such as
Braille?
A. The public service-wide results will be available in Braille,
audiocassette, large print and diskette. For alternative formats of your
departmental results, please contact your departmental Survey Co-ordinator to
obtain the format you need. A listing of Survey Co-ordinators is available at www.psagency-agencefp.gc.ca/survey-sondage/2005/index_e.asp.
17) Q. What will each Department/Agency receive?
A. Each department/agency receives 3 copies of a CD-ROM containing:
Results for demographic variables, as well as results for all questions (PS-wide
and departmental), will be available for 2005 and 2002.
18) Q. What about regional breakdowns?
A. The Survey’s Web site will give breakdowns by region (i.e.,
Prairies, Atlantic) for each question at the public service-wide and
departmental levels only.
|
