Annex B – Research & Surveys

2021 Your Say Survey (YSS) and the 2020 Public Service Employee Survey (PSES) COVID-19 Related Results

Table 8: Your Say Survey (2021) COVID-19 Related Results

Indicator Outcome
Preferred work arrangement Approximately 1/3 of CAF members prefer to work at their usual work location all the time and 1/4 preferred to do so most of the time.
Financial effect of COVID Approximately 1/4 of CAF members expected the pandemic to have a moderate or major effect on their finances.
Change in stress level during the COVID-19 pandemic Approximately 60% of Regular Force members and over 50% of Primary Reservists reported that their stress level had gotten worse since the start of the pandemic, and roughly 20% reported that it was much worse.
Change in mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic Over 50% of Regular Force members and almost 50% of Primary Reservists reported that their mental health has gotten worse since Sept 2020. 
Change in physical health during the COVID-19 pandemic Approximately 60% of CAF members reported that their physical health has gotten worse since the Sept 2020.
Supervisor support The vast majority of CAF members indicated that their supervisor was supportive in various ways during COVID-19.
Organizational support Approximately 70% of CAF members indicated that the organization accommodates individuals’ needs and communicates effectively as related to the pandemic, although fewer believed that effective measures had been developed, and fewer still felt that their well-being was a concern for the CAF.
COVID-19 information The majority of CAF members reported that they received adequate COVID-19 information.
Mental health support and resources information A small majority of CAF members (60% Reg F and 57% P Res) indicated that the DND/CAF has effectively communicated the mental health services and resources that are available.
Physical health and safety measures A small majority of CAF members (55% Reg F and 59% P Res) reported that they are satisfied with the measures the CAF is taking to protect their physical health and safety during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Managing employees working remotely Only approximately 40% of CAF members who managed employees working remotely indicated that they had received adequate training and/or resources to manage a remote team during the pandemic.

Source: Your Say Survey: Programs and Policies (DGMPRA)

Table 9: Public Service Employee Survey (2020) COVID-19 Related Results

Indicator Outcome
Supervisor support of flexible work hours A significant majority of employees’ supervisors supported the use of flexible work hours and approximately 46% took advantage of this.
Stress due to balancing work and home life during the COVID-19 pandemic A majority of employees felt that the balancing of work and caregiving responsibilities (e.g., children, elderly, family member(s)) during the pandemic was causing them stress at work at least to a small extent.
Change in stress level during the COVID-19 pandemic A majority felt that stress from the COVID-19 pandemic was negatively impacting their ability to carry out day-to-day work responsibilities at least to a small extent.
Organizational support The majority of employees believe that senior managers in the department are taking adequate steps to support the mental health of employees during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mental health support and resources information The majority of employees at least somewhat agreed that the department had clearly communicated the mental health services and resources available to them
Physical health and safety measures The majority of employees at least somewhat agreed that they were satisfied with the measures the department is taking to protect their physical health during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Managing employees working remotely The majority of supervisors felt that the department had provided them with adequate training and/or resources to manage a remote team. However, only 24% strongly agreed while 41% somewhat agreed.

Source: Public Service Employee Survey (TBS)

DGMPRA Sexual Misconduct-Related Research Completed in FY 21/22

  • Briner, E., Fraser, K., & Rubenfeld, S., Socialization in Early Training Environments: Insights from the Sexual Misconduct and Socialization study. Oral presentation to Socialization Research Working Group, March 2022.
  • Daugherty, C. (2021, December). Programs and Policies 2021 Your Say Survey: Operation HONOUR and SMRC Results. [PowerPoint presentation]. Director General Professional Military Conduct Sexual Misconduct Response Centre, Ottawa, ON, Canada
  • LeBlanc, M., Peach, J., & Wright, J. (2021, June). CAF Harassment and Discrimination Survey: Harassment, discrimination, and hateful conduct top-line findings, Regular Force. [PowerPoint presentation] Chief, Professional Conduct and Culture (CPCC). Ottawa, ON, Canada.
  • LeBlanc, M., Peach, J., & Wright, J. (2021, June). CAF Harassment and Discrimination Survey: Harassment, discrimination, and top-line findings, Regular Force. [PowerPoint presentation] Armed Forces Council.
  • LeBlanc, M.M., & Rubenfeld, S. (2021, October). To Act or Not to Act: Understanding bystander behaviour in the Canadian Armed Forces. [PowerPoint presentation]. Symposium at 40th Annual Conference of the Treatment of Sexual Abusers, St. Louis, Missouri, USA. 
  • Lecuyer, N., Rubenfeld, S., & Silins, S., (2021, November). Sexual Misconduct Research and Initiatives. [PowerPoint presentation] Five-Eyes Forum on Sexual Misconduct, virtual. (Produced in collaboration with the SMRC)
  • Mercer, N., Fraser, K., & Russell, S. (2021, June). (Sexual) Misconduct and Socialization in Canadian Armed Forces Members: Preliminary Results [PowerPoint presentation, virtual edition]. 2021 Qualitative Analysis Conference.
  • Rubenfeld, S. (2022, January). Sexual Misconduct in the Canadian Armed Forces: Research Update. [PowerPoint presentation]. Sexual Misconduct Response Centre and Chief Professional Conduct and Culture, Ottawa, ON, Canada
  • Rubenfeld, S., Messervey, D., Leblanc, M. & Howell, G. (2021). Measuring Bystander Response to Sexual Misconduct in a military context: Scale development and content validation of the Sexual Misconduct Bystander Behaviour Measure (Director General Military Personnel Research and Analysis DRDC-RDDC-2021-R176). Defence Research and Development Canada.
  • Rubenfeld, S., Messervey, D., LeBlanc, M., & Howell, G., (2021, June). Bystander Response to Sexual Misconduct in the Canadian Military: Content Validation of the Sexual Misconduct Bystander Behaviour Measure [PowerPoint presentation] Canadian Psychological Association Convention, virtual.
  • Rubenfeld, S., & Russell-Miller, S. (2021). Sexual Misconduct in the Canadian Armed Forces: Senior Non-Commissioned Members' Perspectives (Director General Military Personnel Research and Analysis Scientific Report DRDC-RDDC-2021-R128). Defence Research and Development Canada.
  • Rubenfeld, S., Russell-Miller, S., & Soboko, K. (2021, October). Sexual misconduct in the Canadian Armed Forces: Perspectives of senior non-commissioned members [PowerPoint presentation]. Chief Professional Conduct and Culture Research Consultation Group, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
  • Russell-Miller, S., & Fraser, K. (2021). Sensitive topics and vulnerable populations in military-focused qualitative research (Director General Military Personnel Research and Analysis Scientific Letter DRDC-RDDC-2021-D117). Defence Research and Development Canada.
  • Russell-Miller, S., & Rubenfeld, S. (2021, September). Where is the Line? Integrating Research from the Canadian Armed Forces’ Research Program on Sexual Misconduct to Address Barriers to Bystander Intervention. 40th Annual Research and Treatment Conference: Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers.
  • Silins, S. (2021, October). Exploring the Lived Experiences of Victims and Survivors of Sexual Misconduct in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF): Impacts and the Threat of Secondary Harm [PowerPoint presentation]. Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research (CIMVHR) Forum.
  • Stonefish, T., Musolino, E., & Erin, E. (2021). TA-022: Social and Legal Impacts of #MeToo on Sexual Misconduct Implications for Organizational Research (Director General Military Personnel Research and Analysis Contract Report DRDC-RDDC-2021-C316). Defence Research and Development Canada.
  • Stonefish, T., Evans, R., Musolino, E., & Eren, E., Human Resource Systems Group, Task # 029: Professional Military Conduct: Review of Literature on Training and Education, DRDC-RDDC-2021-C264, December 2021, Unclassified.

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