Employment Equity, diversity and inclusion at Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada

Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada offer a wide variety of programs and services that support diversity, Employment Equity and inclusion.

Employee Networks

Learn about workplace programs and services to support persons with disabilities at Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada.

On this page

• Programs and services in the workplace for persons with disabilities
• Employee Networks and Champions
• For more information

Programs and services in the workplace for persons with disabilities

We support employees with disabilities at Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada through various programs and services.

Persons with Disabilities Network

The role of this network is to support the organization in ensuring inclusiveness. The network:

• ensures the concerns of persons with disabilities are considered in the development of policy and workplace initiatives
• helps identify potential barriers in the workplace, such as those that are:
  • physical
  • technological
  • attitude-based

This is done through consultation or identifying concerns as they relate to existing or new initiatives.

The network develops an annual work plan that identifies key activities it wishes to focus on, such as:

• awareness
• recruitment
• talent management
• adaptive technology
• career advancement
• accommodation challenges

Champions for persons with disabilities

Champions promote and support the Persons with Disabilities Network initiatives to senior and middle managers. Champions are involved in the approval of the work plan. They work with the network to get appropriate senior managers involved when needed.

Centre for Persons with Disabilities

The centre delivers programs and services that support managers and employees in creating an inclusive and healthy workplace for employees with disabilities.

Currently, the focus is on the Persons with Disabilities Opportunity Program and career management services.

Persons with Disabilities Opportunity Program (PWDOP)

The opportunity program is unique to the federal public service. It provides opportunities for employees with disabilities to broaden their skills and career development through:

• coaching
• mentoring
• assignments
• career management services
  • career management services provide confidential and individualized counselling and coaching to support you in navigating your career path

Partnerships with university disability offices

We promote the recruitment of students with disabilities by:

• targeting employment opportunities for them
• organizing recruitment events in collaboration with university disability offices

Recruiting employees with disabilities helps bring innovation to our organization and the work we do for Canadians.

Visible Minorities Network

The Visible Minorities Network is committed to improving the working conditions and promoting career advancement opportunities of their visible minority colleagues at HC and PHAC.

Career development opportunities are available for visible minorities employees through the Science Management Development Program.

Gender and Sexual Diversity Network

The Gender and Sexual Diversity Network consists of Health Canada (HC) and Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) employees representing the full spectrum of gender identities, gender expressions and sexual orientations.

What we do

• Support and promote diversity with respect to gender identity, gender expression and sexual orientation
• Create a safe and inclusive environment in HC and PHAC
• Connect people and exchange information about matters of interest
• Ensure that issues pertaining to gender and sexual diversity are part of Health Canada's and the Agency's diversity
• Keep up-to-date on initiatives, activities, events, studies, reports that pertain to the health of the community, in Canada and around the world

Young Professionals Network

The Health Canada Young Professionals Network (YPN) is a leadership, development and networking community geared towards all young/young-at-heart professionals at Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada.

The YPN offers the opportunity to:

• meet fellow young/young-at-heart professionals
• help shape the Health Canada and PHAC you want to see
• foster personal and professional skill sets

Mental health and workplace wellness training

National mandatory workplace wellness training is comprised of courses intended for:

• executives
• managers
• supervisors
• employees

For executives, managers and supervisors, training includes:

• Occupational Health and Safety
• Duty to Accommodate
• Mental Health First Aid Training
• Values and Ethics in the Workplace
• Helping Employees to Improve Performance
• Creating a Respectful Workplace
• Building Blocks of Respect (formerly Prevention and Resolution of Harassment)

For employees, training includes:

• Building Blocks of Respect
• Mental Health First Aid Training
• Creating a Respectful Workplace

In addition, the following mental health-related workshops are offered to all employees nationally:

• Stress Management
• Developing Resiliency
• Emotional Intelligence and Effectiveness in Leadership

For more information

• Apply for a job at Health Canada or the Public Health Agency of Canada
• Email the Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada's Student Office at students-etudiants@hc-sc.gc.ca
• Federal public service jobs