2025 Staffing and Non-Partisanship Survey

The first few questions ask for general information on your work and workplace.

Q01. Do you currently work for the following department or agency?

• 1: Yes
• 2: No

Q02. Which department or agency are you currently working for?

(list of organizations)

Q03. Are you currently a full-time member of the Regular Force of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF)?

• 1: Yes
• 2: No

Q04. Which category of employee are you?

• 1: Regular Member
• 2: Civilian Member
• 3: Special Constable Member
• 4: Public Service Employee

Q05. Were you a manager or supervisor at any time between April 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025?

A public service manager or supervisor is a person who has one or more indeterminate or term employees reporting to them. This includes, but is not restricted to, position titles such as director, assistant director, chief, unit head and team leader.

• 1: Yes
• 2: No

Q05A. Please confirm that you were not a manager or supervisor at any time between April 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025?

• 1: I was not a manager or supervisor during that period
• 2: I was a manager or supervisor during that period

Q06. What is your current employee status?

• 1: Indeterminate (permanent)
• 2: Seasonal
• 3: Term
• 4: Casual
• 5: Student
• 6: Contracted through a temporary help services agency
• 7: Governor-in-council appointee
• 8: Other; for example, Ministers’ exempt staff

Q06A. Please confirm your current employee status. You selected: “[Seasonal/Casual/Student/Contracted through a temporary help services agency/Governor-in-council appointee/Other]”.

Is this correct?

• 1: Yes
• 2: No, I need to change my answer

Q07A. Occupational group

Select your current occupational group from the list below.

If your position is part of an occupational subgroup, select the 2-letter abbreviation for your main occupational group (for example: for SG-SRE, select “SG”). If you are in an acting position, select the group and level of the acting position.

Note: If the occupational group is not listed, select "Other."

• 1: AB
• 2: AC
• 3: AG
• 4: AI
• 5: AO
• 6: AR
• 7: AS
• 8: AU
• 9: BI
• 10: CH
• 11: CM
• 12: CO
• 13: CR
• 14: CS
• 15: CT
• 16: CX
• 17: DA
• 18: DD
• 19: DE
• 20: DS
• 21: EC
• 22: ED
• 23: EG
• 24: EL
• 25: EN
• 26: EU
• 27: EX
• 28: FB
• 29: FI
• 30: FO
• 31: FR
• 32: FS
• 33: GL
• 34: GS
• 35: GT
• 36: GX
• 37: HP
• 38: HR
• 39: HS
• 40: IS
• 41: IT
• 42: LC
• 43: LI
• 44: LP
• 45: LS
• 46: MA
• 47: MD
• 48: MT
• 49: NB
• 50: ND
• 51: NU
• 52: OE
• 53: OM
• 54: OP
• 55: PC
• 56: PE
• 57: PG
• 58: PH
• 59: PI
• 60: PM
• 61: PO
• 62: PR
• 63: PS
• 64: PY
• 65: RE
• 66: RO
• 67: SC
• 68: SE
• 69: SG
• 70: SO
• 71: SR
• 72: ST
• 73: SW
• 74: TI
• 75: TR
• 76: UT
• 77: VM
• 78: WP
• 79: Other (specify) ________________________________

Q07B. Occupational level

Indicate your current occupational level.

• 1: 00
• 2: 01
• 3: 02
• 4: 03
• 5: 04
• 6: 05
• 7: 06
• 8: 07
• 9: 08
• 10: 09
• 11: 10
• 12: 11
• 13: 12
• 14: 13
• 15: 14
• 16: 15
• 17: 16
• 18: 17
• 19: Other (specify) _______________________________

Q08. In total, how many years have you been at your current group and level?

Exclude any period of extended leave, such as maternity or parental leave, or other leave without pay.

• 1: Less than a year
• 2: 1 year to less than 3 years
• 3: 3 years to less than 5 years
• 4: 5 years to less than 10 years
• 5: 10 years or more

Q09. Were you a staffing advisor at any time between April 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025?

A staffing advisor is someone whose principal duties involve providing advice to managers about staffing activities and appointments under the Public Service Employment Act (PSEA), in an operational context. For the purposes of this survey, this is restricted to persons in the PE group who work in the Human Resources (HR) Branch or Directorate of a department or agency.

This excludes persons whose principal duties fall under other HR disciplines (for instance, classification and labour relations) and persons working as a go-between or intermediary to departmental staffing services.

• 1: Yes
• 2: No

Q01. The following section examines your role as a manager or supervisor between April 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025.

Between April 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025, in your role as manager or supervisor, did you hire, or attempt to hire, any indeterminate or term employees meant to report to you?

• 1: Yes
• 2: No

The Public Service Commission of Canada’s mandate is to promote and safeguard a merit-based, representative and non-partisan public service that serves all Canadians.

The following questions are about your role as a hiring manager in staffing processes. The information that you provide will be kept strictly confidential and grouped together with other responses.

Q01. Between April 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025, in your role as manager or supervisor, which type of staffing processes did you use to staff vacant positions with indeterminate or term employees meant to report to you?

• 1: Advertised appointment processes
• 2: Non-advertised appointment processes
• 3: Both advertised and non-advertised appointment processes

Q02. Why did you use non-advertised appointments?

Select all that apply.

• 1: Advertised appointment processes are too complicated or take too long
• 2: I had a particular candidate in mind
• 3: Non-advertised appointment processes allow me to hire the best candidate for the position
• 4: Non-advertised appointments allow my organization to promote more inclusive hiring
• 5: Non-advertised appointments improve employee retention
• 6: Other (please specify): ______________________________________

Q03. Between April 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025, which of the following alternative recruitment platforms have you used when conducting a staffing process?

Select all that apply.

• 1: LinkedIn
• 2: Indeed
• 3: GCconnex
• 4: Glassdoor
• 5: Facebook
• 6: Twitter
• 7: Employee referral programs
• 8: VidCruiter
• 9: Other (please specify): ______________________________________
• 10: None of the above

Q04. In what part of the staffing process did you use...

[LinkedIn/Indeed/GCconnex/Glassdoor/Facebook/Twitter/ Employee referral programs /VidCruiter/Other]

Select all that apply.

• 1: Job poster
• 2: Applicant screening
• 3: Written exam
• 4: Interviews
• 5: Reference checks
• 6: Appointments (for example: to provide letter of offer, make a formal job offer, notification of placement in a pool)
• 7: Updating applicants on progress
• 8: Other

Q04B. In what other part of the staffing process did you use...

Exclude any personal information about yourself or others.

• 1: LinkedIn ______________________________________
• 2: Indeed ______________________________________    
• 3: GCconnex ______________________________________
• 4: Glassdoor ______________________________________
• 5: Facebook ______________________________________
• 6: Twitter ______________________________________
• 7: Employee referral programs ______________________________________
• 8: VidCruiter ______________________________________
• 9: Other ______________________________________      

Q05. Between April 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025, did you use artificial intelligence technology (for example, ChatGPT, Gemini by Google, Microsoft Copilot) when conducting a staffing process?

• 1: Yes
• 2: No
• 3: Don’t know

Q06. In which part of the staffing process did you use artificial intelligence technology?

Select all that apply.

• 1: Preparing the merit criteria
• 2: Preparing job posters
• 3: Preparing assessment tools
• 4: Conducting interviews
• 5: Reference checks
• 6: Appointments (for example: to create or provide a letter of offer, make a formal job offer, notification of placement in a pool)
• 7: Updating applicants on progress
• 8: Reviewing applications
• 9: Reviewing assessments (for example: written tests)
• 10: Ranking candidates
• 11: Other (please specify) ____________________________________

Q07. Thinking about the appointment processes that you undertook between April 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025, to what extent do you agree with the following statements?

Select only one answer per statement.

• 1. The appointees meet the performance expectations of the positions for which they were hired.
  • 1: Not at all
  • 2: To a minimal extent
  • 3: To a moderate extent
  • 4: To a great extent
  • 5: Not applicable
  • 6: Don’t know
• 2. I felt pressure to select a particular candidate.
  • 1: Not at all
  • 2: To a minimal extent
  • 3: To a moderate extent
  • 4: To a great extent
  • 5: Not applicable
  • 6: Don’t know

Q08.You previously reported that you agree [to a minimal extent/to a moderate extent/to a great extent] with the statement “I felt pressure to select a particular candidate."

From whom did you experience this pressure?

Select all that apply.

• 1: Individuals with authority over me
• 2: Co-workers
• 3: Individuals reporting to me
• 4: Individuals from other departments or agencies
• 5: Individuals from outside the government
• 6: Selection board members
• 7: Elected officials or political staffers
• 8: Other people

Q09A. The following questions examine your relationship with the staffing advisors in your organization, and the degree or quality of support you feel they provided you.

To what extent do you agree with the following statement regarding the staffing services you received between April 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025?

Overall, I am satisfied with the staffing services I have received from my organization.

• 1: Not at all
• 2: To a minimal extent
• 3: To a moderate extent
• 4: To a great extent
• 5: Not applicable
• 6: Don’t know

Q09B. In which of the following areas would you like greater advice and guidance from your department or agency’s staffing services?

Select all that apply.

• 1: Aligning your staffing needs with the priorities of your department or agency’s Human Resources plan or People Management plan
• 2: Consideration of persons with a priority entitlement
• 3: Assessment accommodation measures
• 4: Employment equity considerations
• 5: Accessibility, diversity and inclusion
• 6: Establishing the area of selection
• 7: Establishing the merit criteria
• 8: Advice, tools and guidance to support staffing decisions
• 9: Finding new approaches to staffing
• 10: Existing pools of candidates within your organization
• 11: Federal Student Work Experience Program (FSWEP)
• 12: Post-Secondary Co-Operative Education and Internship Program (CO-OP)
• 13: Recruitment of Policy Leaders Program (RPL)
• 14: Indigenous Career Pathways
• 15: Virtual Door to Talent with Disabilities
• 16: Research Affiliate Program
• 17: Identifying and mitigating risks in staffing processes
• 18: Legislative and policy interpretations
• 19: Mobility and preference provisions under the Veterans Hiring Act
• 20: Other areas (please specify) ____________________________________

Q09C.  To what extent do you agree with the following statement?

I receive adequate support from staffing advisors to reduce the time it takes to staff a vacant position.

• 1: Not at all
• 2: To a minimal extent
• 3: To a moderate extent
• 4: To a great extent
• 5: Not applicable
• 6: Don’t know

Q01. To what extent were you able to exercise your judgment or managerial discretion when making staffing decisions?

• 1: Not at all
• 2: To a minimal extent
• 3: To a moderate extent
• 4: To a great extent
• 5: Not applicable
• 6: Don’t know

Q02. To what extent do you agree with the following statements?

Select only one answer per statement.

• 1. I am aware of my organization’s Human Resources plan or People Management plan.
  • 1: Not at all
  • 2: To a minimal extent
  • 3: To a moderate extent
  • 4: To a great extent
  • 5: Not applicable
  • 6: Don’t know
• 2. I feel equipped in identifying and mitigating biases and barriers in assessment methods that disadvantage persons belonging to an equity-seeking group.
  • 1: Not at all
  • 2: To a minimal extent
  • 3: To a moderate extent
  • 4: To a great extent
  • 5: Not applicable
  • 6: Don’t know
• 3. Staffing options available within my organization allow me to address my staffing needs as quickly as required.
  • 1: Not at all
  • 2: To a minimal extent
  • 3: To a moderate extent
  • 4: To a great extent
  • 5: Not applicable
  • 6: Don’t know
• 4. Staffing options available within my organization provide me with the flexibility to appoint persons to meet the needs of my work unit.
  • 1: Not at all
  • 2: To a minimal extent
  • 3: To a moderate extent
  • 4: To a great extent
  • 5: Not applicable
  • 6: Don’t know
• 5. I felt comfortable explaining staffing decisions to my employees.
  • 1: Not at all
  • 2: To a minimal extent
  • 3: To a moderate extent
  • 4: To a great extent
  • 5: Not applicable
  • 6: Don’t know

Q03. Priority entitlement provides certain qualified persons, who meet specific conditions, with an entitlement to be appointed ahead of all other persons to a position within the public service. More information can be found on the Information on priority entitlements page.

To what extent are you aware of your responsibilities related to considering persons with a priority entitlement when making appointments?

• 1: Not at all
• 2: To a minimal extent
• 3: To a moderate extent
• 4: To a great extent
• 5: Not applicable
• 6: Don’t know

Q04A. Between April 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025, did you:

Select all that apply.

• 1: Consider (confirm interest, review eligibility) hiring a person with a priority entitlement
• 2: Assess (screening, testing, interviewing) a person with a priority entitlement as part of a staffing process
• 3: Hire (appointing or deploying) a person with a priority entitlement to a position
• 4: None of the above

Q04B. You selected “none of the above,” please explain why?

Select all that apply.

• 1: Considering persons with a priority entitlement is not a staffing option recommended by my human resources advisor
• 2: The priority consideration process is unclear to me
• 3: The priority consideration process is too time consuming
• 4: The priority consideration process is complicated
• 5: The priority talent pool does not match my staffing needs
• 6: The priority consideration process does not let me select the best candidate for the position
• 7: No candidates were referred to me
• 8: I did not conduct any appointment processes
• 9: Other (please specify) ____________________________________________

Q05. To what extent do you agree with the following statements?

Select only one answer per statement.

• 1. Persons with a priority entitlement are a valuable source of qualified candidates.
  • 1: Not at all
  • 2: To a minimal extent
  • 3: To a moderate extent
  • 4: To a great extent
  • 5: Not applicable
  • 6: Don’t know
• 2. Persons with a priority entitlement that are hired meet performance expectations.
  • 1: Not at all
  • 2: To a minimal extent
  • 3: To a moderate extent
  • 4: To a great extent
  • 5: Not applicable
  • 6: Don’t know

Q06A. For the statement "Persons with a priority entitlement are a valuable source of qualified candidates", you indicated the level of agreement “[not at all/to a minimal extent]”.

Indicate the reasons why.

Select all that apply.

• 1: Persons with a priority entitlement do not possess the essential qualifications
• 2: Persons with a priority entitlement require additional training to get up to speed
• 3: I have a preferred candidate in mind
• 4: Persons with a priority entitlement do not want to relocate for a position
• 5: Persons with a priority entitlement do not meet the position requirements (for example: classification, conditions of employment or work location)
• 6: Other reasons (please specify) __________________________________________

Q01. This section examines your role as a staffing advisor within your department or agency between April 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025.

To what extent do you agree with the following statements?

Select only one answer per statement.

1. When priority candidates were referred, managers were open to considering them.
• 1: Not at all
• 2: To a minimal extent
• 3: To a moderate extent
• 4: To a great extent
• 5: Not applicable
• 6: Don't know
2. As a staffing advisor, I feel equipped to support hiring managers in hiring persons with priority entitlements.
• 1: Not at all
• 2: To a minimal extent
• 3: To a moderate extent
• 4: To a great extent
• 5: Not applicable
• 6: Don't know
3. I know where to find Public Service Commission of Canada tools and guidance to help my client managers remove or mitigate biases and barriers in assessment methods that disadvantage persons belonging to an equity-seeking group.
• 1: Not at all
• 2: To a minimal extent
• 3: To a moderate extent
• 4: To a great extent
• 5: Not applicable
• 6: Don't know
4. As a staffing advisor, I have received sufficient guidance from my organization to help managers review their assessment methods before they use them to remove or mitigate any biases and barriers that disadvantage persons belonging to an equity-seeking group.
• 1: Not at all
• 2: To a minimal extent
• 3: To a moderate extent
• 4: To a great extent
• 5: Not applicable
• 6: Don't know

The following questions examine your perceptions of staffing in general, from your perspective as an employee, between April 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025.

The information that you provide will be kept strictly confidential and grouped together with other responses.

Q01. To what extent do you agree with the following statements regarding staffing practices within your current work unit?

Select only one answer per statement.

• 1. Within my work unit, staffing activities are carried out in a transparent way.
  • 1: Not at all
  • 2: To a minimal extent
  • 3: To a moderate extent
  • 4: To a great extent
  • 5: Not applicable
  • 6: Don’t know
• 2. Within my work unit, I believe that we hire people who can do the job.
  • 1: Not at all
  • 2: To a minimal extent
  • 3: To a moderate extent
  • 4: To a great extent
  • 5: Not applicable
  • 6: Don’t know
• 3. My manager keeps me informed of staffing decisions involving my work unit.
  • 1: Not at all
  • 2: To a minimal extent
  • 3: To a moderate extent
  • 4: To a great extent
  • 5: Not applicable
  • 6: Don’t know
• 4. Within my work unit, the advertised job requirements reflect those of the position to be filled.
  • 1: Not at all
  • 2: To a minimal extent
  • 3: To a moderate extent
  • 4: To a great extent
  • 5: Not applicable
  • 6: Don’t know
• 5. Within my work unit, the process of selecting a person for a position is done fairly.
  • 1: Not at all
  • 2: To a minimal extent
  • 3: To a moderate extent
  • 4: To a great extent
  • 5: Not applicable
  • 6: Don’t know
• 6. Within my work unit, non-advertised appointments are done fairly.
  • 1: Not at all
  • 2: To a minimal extent
  • 3: To a moderate extent
  • 4: To a great extent
  • 5: Not applicable
  • 6: Don’t know

Q02. For the statement “Within my work unit, the process of selecting a person for a position is done fairly”, you indicated the level of agreement: “[not at all/to a minimal extent]”.

Please explain why.

(text box)

Q03. For the statement “Within my work unit, non-advertised appointments are done fairly”, you indicated the level of agreement: “[not at all/to a minimal extent]”.

Indicate the reasons why.

• 1: Non-advertised appointments are never fair
• 2: Non-advertised appointments are not transparent
• 3: Non-advertised appointments depend on who you know
• 4: Non-advertised appointments are not based on merit
• 5: Non-advertised appointments are not inclusive
• 6: Other (please specify) _________________________________

Q04. Between April 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025, did you act in a position for a period of 4 months or longer?

• 1: Yes
• 2: No, I did not have any opportunity to act
• 3: No, I had the opportunity but decided not to act

Q05. Between April 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025, did you participate in an advertised staffing process for a promotion?

• 1: Yes
• 2: No

Q06. Why did you not participate in a process for a promotion between April 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025?

Select all that apply.

• 1: I was not interested because I am satisfied with my current group and level
• 2: No promotion opportunities were available
• 3: There was no point in participating because I do not believe that staffing processes are fair
• 4: There was no point in participating because advertised positions were meant for specific persons
• 5: I was not interested because I am retiring shortly
• 6: I was not interested because I have no interest in moving to a management or executive position
• 7: I was not interested because I am not geographically mobile
• 8: I was concerned that this move would affect my work-life balance
• 9: I was concerned that I have not been at my current group and level for a long time
• 10: I was concerned that my current accommodation measures may not be accepted in a new position
• 11: I was concerned that I might not be successful
• 12: I was concerned that my pay would be affected by issues with the Phoenix pay system
• 13: I did not qualify because I did not meet the language requirements for the position
• 14: I did not qualify because I did not meet the essential qualifications for the position (for example: education, knowledge, experience)
• 15: Operational requirements of the position did not suit my personal circumstances (for example: willingness and ability to work overtime on a short notice, willingness to travel)
• 16: The application process is burdensome
• 17: Staffing processes take too long to complete
• 18: Concerns related to accessibility
• 19: I don’t want to self-declare as part of a staffing process if it’s required
• 20: Other reasons (please specify) _________________________________________

Q06B. You indicated that you did not participate in a staffing process for a promotion due to concerns related to accessibility.

Please specify.

(text box)

Q07. Other than for a promotion, did you participate in an advertised staffing process between April 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025?

• 1: Yes
• 2: No

Q08. Between April 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025, did you withdraw from a staffing process because it took too long?

• 1: Yes
• 2: No

Q09. Did any of the staffing activities in which you participated result in the following?

Select only one answer per statement.

• 1. You participated, as a candidate, in a virtual assessment as part of a selection process.
  • 1: Yes
  • 2: No
  • 3: The process is still ongoing
• 2. You were placed in a pool of candidates.
  • 1: Yes
  • 2: No
  • 3: The process is still ongoing
• 3. You received an offer of appointment.
  • 1: Yes
  • 2: No
  • 3: The process is still ongoing

Q10. Between April 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025, did you use artificial intelligence (for example, ChatGPT, Gemini by Google, Microsoft Copilot) technology as part of any of the staffing processes you participated in?

• 1: Yes
• 2: No
• 3: Don’t know

Q11. In what part of the staffing process did you use artificial intelligence technology?

Select all that apply.

• 1: Writing a cover letter
• 2: Answering screening questions
• 3: Preparing for an interview
• 4: Writing an exam
• 5: Preparing a resume or CV
• 6: Preparing for a second language evaluation
• 7: Other (please specify) ______________________________________

Q12A. Between April 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025, as part of a staffing process or second language evaluation, did you request any assessment accommodation measures?

• 1: Yes
• 2: No

Q12B. Were any assessment accommodation measures provided?

• 1: Yes
• 2: No

Q12C. What type(s) of accommodation did you request and receive between April 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025?

Select all that apply.

• 1: Extra time to complete an assessment
• 2: Assessment shortened or divided into parts/sessions
• 3: Assessment done at home
• 4: Visual enhancement technology
• 5: Visual replacement technology such as a screen reader
• 6: Speech recognition software
• 7: Use of a private room
• 8: Accommodation measures for persons with difficulty hearing
• 9: Wheelchair access
• 10: Materials/questions provided ahead of time
• 11: Break(s) during an assessment
• 12: Other (please specify) ____________________________________________

Q12D.To what extent were you satisfied with the assessment accommodation provided?

• 1: Not at all
• 2: To a minimal extent
• 3: To a moderate extent
• 4: To a great extent

Q12E. Between April 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025, as part of a staffing process or second language evaluation, did you need any assessment accommodation measures that you did not request?

• 1: Yes
• 2: No
• 3: Don’t know

Q12F. Why did you not request the assessment accommodation measures that you needed?

Select all that apply.

• 1: I did not believe that I would receive the accommodation I needed
• 2: I was concerned that making an accommodation request would reduce my chances of succeeding in the appointment process
• 3: The process of obtaining an accommodation takes too much time
• 4: Requesting assessment accommodations is too difficult or complicated
• 5: Other reason(s) (please specify) __________________________________________

Q13pre. The Public Service Employment Act (PSEA) was amended in June 2021 to address systemic barriers for equity-seeking groups in public service staffing processes. The Public Service Commission of Canada’s mandate is to promote and safeguard a merit-based, representative and non-partisan public service that serves all Canadians.

For this reason, the Public Service Commission of Canada will collect this information to examine biases and barriers, to share with departments and agencies to help them establish programs and policies to reduce barriers and encourage more inclusive recruitment practices. The information that you provide will be kept strictly confidential and grouped together with other responses.

Equity-seeking groups are defined in the Public Service Employment Act. They refer to groups of persons who are disadvantaged on the basis of one or more prohibited grounds of discrimination within the meaning of the Canadian Human Rights Act. The 13 prohibited grounds of discrimination are: race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, family status, genetic characteristics, disability, and conviction for an offence for which a pardon has been granted or in respect of which a record suspension has been ordered.

A “bias that disadvantages persons belonging to any equity-seeking group” is any belief or assumption that results in behaviour or decisions that exclude or hinder the full and equal participation, including the equitable treatment, of those persons.

A “barrier that disadvantages persons belonging to any equity-seeking group” is anything that excludes or hinders the full and equal participation, including the equitable treatment, of those persons. “Anything” includes physical, architectural, technological or attitudinal obstacles, policies, practices, systems or procedures.

Q13. Within my department or agency, staffing processes are conducted in a way that reduces or eliminates biases and barriers that disadvantage persons belonging to any equity-seeking group, in assessment methods used in staffing processes.

Do you agree with the statement above?

• 1: Yes
• 2: No
• 3: Don't know

Q14A. You previously indicated that you participated in a staffing process between April 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025.

Did you experience any biases and barriers that disadvantaged you in the staffing process?

• 1: Yes
• 2: No
• 3: Don't know

Q14B. Which of the following prohibited grounds of discrimination under the Canadian Human Rights Act were the basis for the disadvantage that you experienced in the staffing process?

Select all that apply.

• 1: Race
• 2: National or ethnic origin
• 3: Colour
• 4: Religion
• 5: Age
• 6: Sex
• 7: Sexual orientation
• 8: Gender identity or expression
• 9: Marital status
• 10: Family status
• 11: Genetic characteristics
• 12: Disability
• 13: Conviction for an offence for which a pardon has been granted or in respect of which a record suspension has been ordered
• 14: Don’t know

Q14C. In what part of the hiring process did you feel you experienced biases or barriers?

Select all that apply.

• 1: Job application
• 2: Automated screening
• 3: Organizational screening
• 4: Written exam
• 5: Interviews
• 6: Reference checks
• 7: Appointments
• 8: Second language evaluation
• 9: Security clearance

Q15. To what extent are you aware of these mechanisms, should you have concerns regarding an appointment process?

Select only one answer per statement.

• 1. Contacting the Public Service Commission of Canada (PSC) to request an investigation into an appointment process. The PSC is responsible for investigating staffing irregularities, such as appointments from external processes not being based on merit, or when an error, omission or improper conduct occurred in these processes. The PSC also investigates suspected fraud in any process.
  • 1: Not at all
  • 2: To a minimal extent
  • 3: To a moderate extent
  • 4: To a great extent
• 2. Contacting the deputy head responsible for the process to request an investigation into their appointment process. Deputy heads can investigate allegations of errors, omissions or improper conduct in internal appointment processes.
  • 1: Not at all
  • 2: To a minimal extent
  • 3: To a moderate extent
  • 4: To a great extent
• 3. Filing a staffing complaint with the Federal Public Sector Labour Relations and Employment Board (FPSLREB).
  • 1: Not at all
  • 2: To a minimal extent
  • 3: To a moderate extent
  • 4: To a great extent

Q16A. Would you ever consider using one of these mechanisms if you suspected irregularities in an appointment process?

For example: appointment not based on merit, appointment not free of political influence, or fraud.

• 1: Yes
• 2: No

Q16B. You indicated that you would not consider using one of these mechanisms if you suspected irregularities in an appointment process.

Why not?

Select all that apply.

• 1: Fear of reprisal
• 2: Formal processes are too complicated or too long
• 3: Concerned about confidentiality of information provided
• 4: Mechanisms are not independent or not transparent
• 5: Do not believe it would make a difference
• 6: Other reasons (please specify) ___________________________

Q17. To what extent do you agree with the following statement:

Diversity and inclusion initiatives related to staffing within my organization are adequate to support building a diverse and representative workforce.

• 1: Not at all
• 2: To a minimal extent
• 3: To a moderate extent
• 4: To a great extent

Q01A. We are interested in any comments you might have regarding staffing practices.

Did your organization undertake innovative staffing practices or initiatives?

• 1: Yes
• 2: No
• 3: Don't know

Q01B. Enter the innovative staffing practices or initiatives undertaken. Briefly outline them here.

Exclude any personal information about yourself or others.

(text box)

The following questions examine political activities and non-partisanship, including public servants' understanding of their rights and responsibilities, and their perception of the relative political neutrality of their work environment.

Q01. To what extent do you agree with the following statements regarding political activities and non-partisanship?

Select only one answer per statement.

• 1. I am aware of my legal rights and responsibilities for engaging in political activities.
  • 1: Not at all
  • 2: To a minimal extent
  • 3: To a moderate extent
  • 4: To a great extent
  • 5: Don’t know
• 2. If I wanted to seek nomination or become a candidate in a federal, provincial, territorial or municipal election, I am aware of my responsibilities as a public servant.
  • 1: Not at all
  • 2: To a minimal extent
  • 3: To a moderate extent
  • 4: To a great extent
  • 5: Don’t know
• 3. I know enough, or I know where to find information about engagement in political activities.
  • 1: Not at all
  • 2: To a minimal extent
  • 3: To a moderate extent
  • 4: To a great extent
  • 5: Don’t know
• 4. I understand my responsibilities to be politically impartial in carrying out my duties as a public servant.
  • 1: Not at all
  • 2: To a minimal extent
  • 3: To a moderate extent
  • 4: To a great extent
  • 5: Don’t know
• 5. My organization keeps me informed of my responsibilities to be politically impartial in carrying out my duties.
  • 1: Not at all
  • 2: To a minimal extent
  • 3: To a moderate extent
  • 4: To a great extent
  • 5: Don’t know
• 6. In my work unit, employees carry out their duties as public servants in a politically impartial manner.
  • 1: Not at all
  • 2: To a minimal extent
  • 3: To a moderate extent
  • 4: To a great extent
  • 5: Don’t know
• 7. I am aware that expressing my political views on social media may impact my ability to remain politically impartial or to be perceived as impartial when carrying out my public service duties.
  • 1: Not at all
  • 2: To a minimal extent
  • 3: To a moderate extent
  • 4: To a great extent
  • 5: Don’t know

Q02. Between April 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025, other than voting or seeking political candidacy, did you engage in any political activities?

Political activities can include:

• using blogs, social networking or a personal website to express personal views supporting or against a candidate or a political party
• posting a lawn sign or wearing a campaign button
• fundraising for a political party
• distributing campaign information for a candidate.
  • 1: Yes
  • 2: No

The following questions ask for general demographic information that will be used to better understand the survey results and to allow for comparability across demographic groups including the subgroups of employment equity groups as well as equity-seeking groups. To ensure confidentiality, please be advised that your responses will be grouped with those of other respondents in your organization. Individual responses and results for very small groups are never published.

Q01. Regardless of where you currently work physically, in which region, province or territory do you officially report for work?

• 1: National Capital Region (NCR)
• 2: Ontario (excluding the NCR)
• 3: Quebec (excluding the NCR)
• 4: Newfoundland and Labrador
• 5: Prince Edward Island
• 6: Nova Scotia
• 7: New Brunswick
• 8: Manitoba
• 9: Saskatchewan
• 10: Alberta
• 11: British Columbia
• 12: Yukon
• 13: Northwest Territories
• 14: Nunavut
• 15: Outside of Canada

Q01. What is the highest certificate, diploma or degree that you have completed?

• 1: Less than high school diploma or its equivalent
• 2: High school diploma or a high school equivalency certificate
• 3: Trades certificate or diploma
• 4: College, CEGEP or other non-university certificate or diploma (other than trades certificates or diplomas)
• 5: University certificate or diploma below the bachelor’s level
• 6: Bachelor's degree, for example: BA, BA (Honours), BSc, BEd, LLB
• 7: University certificate, diploma or degree above the bachelor's level

Q01. In total, how many years have you been working in your current department or agency?

• 1: Less than a year
• 2: 1 year to less than 3 years
• 3: 3 years to less than 5 years
• 4: 5 years to less than 10 years
• 5: 10 years or more

Q02. In total, how many years have you been working in the federal public service?

• 1: Less than a year
• 2: 1 year to less than 3 years
• 3: 3 years to less than 10 years
• 4: 10 years to less than 20 years
• 5: 20 years to less than 30 years
• 6: 30 years or more

Q03. In total, how long have you supervised federal public service employees?

• 1: Less than a year
• 2: 1 year to less than 5 years
• 3: 5 years to less than 10 years
• 4: 10 years or more

Q04. In total, how long have you been a staffing advisor within the federal public service?

• 1: Less than a year
• 2: 1 year to less than 5 years
• 3: 5 years to less than 10 years
• 4: 10 years or more

Q01. What is your age group?

• 1: 24 years or under
• 2: 25 to 29 years
• 3: 30 to 34 years
• 4: 35 to 39 years
• 5: 40 to 44 years
• 6: 45 to 49 years
• 7: 50 to 54 years
• 8: 55 to 59 years
• 9: 60 years or over

Q01. What is your gender?

Gender refers to a social and personal identity. It may be different than the person’s biological sex and from what is indicated on legal documentation.

• 1: Man
• 2: Woman
• 3: Another gender (please specify) ______________________
• 4: Prefer not to say

Q02A. The following 2 questions are about sexual orientation and gender identity.

What is your sexual orientation?

Select all that apply.

• 1: Lesbian
• 2: Gay
• 3: Bisexual
• 4: Asexual
• 5: Pansexual
• 6: Heterosexual
• 7: Another sexual orientation (please specify) _________________________
• 8: Prefer not to specify

Q02B. Do you identify with any of the following groups?

For more detailed definitions, please refer to the Gender and Sexual Diversity Glossary on Termium Plus.

Select all that apply.

• 1: Cisgender (a person who identifies with the sex they were assigned at birth)
• 2: Two-Spirit (an Indigenous person in North America who embodies both female and male spirits or whose gender identity, sexual orientation or spiritual identity is not limited by the male/female dichotomy)
• 3: Transgender (a person whose gender does not align with the sex they were assigned at birth)
• 4: Queer (a person whose sexual orientation or gender differs from the normative binary vision of gender and sexuality)
• 5: Questioning (a person who is uncertain of their gender or sexual orientation)
• 6: Intersex (a person whose anatomical and physiological characteristics do not meet the medical criteria of the female or male sex)
• 7: Gender non-binary (a person whose gender does not align with the binary gender model of man or woman)
• 8: Another gender identity (please specify) _______________________
• 9: Prefer not to say

Q01. What is your first official language?

The Official Languages Act (1969) is the federal statute that made English and French the official languages of Canada.

• 1: English
• 2: French

Q01. Do you identify as an Indigenous person?

For the purposes of this survey, the term “Indigenous” should be understood to mean people who are First Nations, Inuk (Inuit), or Métis.

Select all that apply.

• 1: No
• 2: Yes, First Nations (North American Indian)
• 3: Yes, Inuk (Inuit)
• 4: Yes, Métis
• 5: Yes, but prefer not to specify
• 6: Prefer not to say

Q01. Are you a person with a disability?

A person with a disability is a person with any impairment, including a physical, mental, intellectual, cognitive, learning, communication or sensory impairment, or a functional limitation, whether permanent, temporary or episodic in nature, or evident or not, that, in interaction with a barrier, hinders a person’s full and equal participation in society.

For the purposes of this questionnaire, please only identify disabilities that have lasted or are expected to last 6 months or more.

Select all that apply.

• 1: No
• 2: Seeing disability: affects vision, including total blindness, partial sight and visual distortion
• 3: Hearing disability: affects ability to hear, including being hard of hearing, deafness or acoustic distortion
• 4: Speech or communication disability: affects ability to talk, including total speech loss, partial speech and speech distortion
• 5: Mobility disability: affects ability to move your body, including the required use of a wheelchair or a cane, or other issues impacting your mobility
• 6: Flexibility disability: affects ability to move joints, to bend and to reach for things
• 7: Dexterity disability: affects ability to perform fine motor tasks, especially with your hands
• 8: Mental health-related disability: affects psychology or behaviour, such as anxiety, depression or social or compulsive disorder, or phobia or psychiatric illness
• 9: Sensory or environmental disability: affects sensitivity to lights, sounds, smells or other elements in one’s environment, including allergens
• 10: Chronic health condition: affects ability to function on a regular or episodic basis due to an ongoing health condition such as diabetes, Crohn’s disease, colitis, fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis
• 11: Pain-related disability: affects ability to function on a regular or episodic basis due to pain
• 12: Cognitive disability: ability to carry out tasks involving executive functioning, such as planning and organization
• 13: Learning disability: affects the way a person receives, understands and uses information, such as dyslexia, dysgraphia and other learning disabilities
• 14: Memory disability: affects a person’s ability to remember information
• 15: Developmental disability (also known as intellectual disability): affects ability to learn and to adapt behaviour to different situations
• 16: Another disability (optional to specify) _______________________________
• 17: Yes, but prefer not to specify
• 18: Prefer not to say

Q01. The following question collects information in accordance with the Employment Equity Act, its regulations and guidelines, to support programs that promote equal opportunity for everyone to share in the social, cultural and economic life of Canada.

Do you identify as:

Select all that apply.

• 1: White
• 2: South Asian (for example: East Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan)
• 3: Chinese
• 4: Black
• 5: Filipino
• 6: Arab
• 7: Latin American
• 8: Southeast Asian (for example: Vietnamese, Cambodian, Laotian, Thai)
• 9: West Asian (for example: Iranian, Afghan)
• 10: Korean
• 11: Japanese
• 12: Other, please specify ___________________________

Q02. What is your current marital status? Are you...

• 1: Married
• 2: Living common-law
• 3: Separated, but still legally married
• 4: Divorced
• 5: Single, never married
• 6: Widowed
• 8: Prefer not to answer
• 9: Don’t know

Q03. Do you have dependants residing in your household?

A dependant may include at least one child, grandchild, parent, grandparent, brother, sister, uncle, aunt, person with a mental or physical disability.

• 1: Yes (please enter number of dependants) _______________
• 2: No
• 3: Prefer not to say

Q04. What is your religion?

Specify your denomination or religion, even if you are not currently a practising member of that group.

• 1: No religion
• 2: Buddhism
• 3: Christianity
• 4: Hinduism
• 5: Islam
• 6: Judaism
• 7: Sikhism
• 8: Traditional (North American Indigenous) spirituality
• 9: Other religion and spiritual traditions (please specify) _______________________
• 10: Prefer not to answer