Gender-based analysis plus 2019-20

Institutional GBA+ Capacity

Governance structure

Shared Services Canada (SSC) has been increasingly integrating Gender Based Analysis plus (GBA+) into programs and services since 2016. All Treasury Board Memoranda to Cabinet and Submissions continue to include a GBA+ analysis. The GBA+ Responsibility Centre currently resides in Strategic Services within Human Resources and Workplace (HRW). They collaborate closely with the Strategy Branch, ensuring that GBA+ is incorporated where possible based on data availability and leveraging existing governance structures. Internal GBA+ objectives are also attained via activities supported by Diversity networks and their Champions representing various intersectional groups at SSC.

Major initiatives: results achieved

During 2019–20, GBA+ analysis and implementation have continued to have a direct impact on decisions, actions and results fostering gender equality within SSC. While continued deliberate efforts are needed to address GBA+ issues, SSC employees are increasingly diverse and employment survey results are improving.

Below you will find SSC initiatives and results for the intersectional groups, during this reporting cycle.

Women

SSC successfully achieved several GBA+ goals including promoting Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields and the development of women to achieve gender equality and decrease discrimination. Some of the key initiatives that took place during the past year include: the SSC Champion for Women hosted a TEDx SSC Women Event with 12 women speakers from across the public and private sectors talking about their personal stories and experiences; and SSC also hosted monthly interdepartmental Women in STEM meetups with more than 250 participants to discuss key issues. SSC launched a social media campaign to highlight women in STEM across government as well as a week of activities to celebrate International Women’s Day (#IWD20in20), including an event that showcased women-identifying leaders from different levels who impact our country, culture and society.

Indigenous peoples

SSC strategies and priorities in regards to Indigenous Peoples GBA+ intersectional goals are achieved in collaboration with Diversity and Inclusion Champions and Advisory Committees. Some of these goals include: promoting related commemorative events; developing strategies to decrease discrimination; and addressing issues highlighted in Public Service Employee Survey results. A few highlights from the past year include: the successful delivery to SSC employees of the Kairos Blanket Exercise; the promotion of the Moose Hide Campaign; and the launch and promotion of Indigenous Awareness Week and Indigenous History Month.

Persons with disabilities

GBA+ goals in relation to employees with disabilities have been achieved in collaboration with SSC’s Persons with Disabilities Champion and Advisory Committee. SCC has worked to identify solutions to challenges that impact SSC employees with disabilities. Notably, SSC  piloted the EN 301 549 standard for procurement of accessible Information Communications Technology (ICT) and worked with SSC technical and contracting authorities to include accessibility requirements in enterprise procurements, and some non-enterprise solutions. As part of the pilot, training and awareness sessions were conducted with over 170 SSC employees in 2019–20. The Accessibility Accommodations and Adaptive Computer Technology (AAACT) Program also provided ICT accessibility requirements/ advice for other government departments upon request.

Visible Minority Employees

SSC’s Visible Minority Champion and Advisory Committee, in collaboration with the Diversity Unit, worked to identify solutions to challenges that impact SSC employees. They were successful in achieving several goals this past year, including: promoting related commemorative events; developing strategies to decrease discrimination; promoting consultations and trainings in order to improve the departmental recruitment and staffing processes; and addressing issues highlighted in the Public Service Employee Survey (PSES) and Public Service Employee Annual Survey (PSEAS) results. Additionally, research and collaboration with other departments also took place in order to develop best practices and strategies for employees within the Department.

Regional Capacity

SSC continues to build regional capacity through recruitment, engagement and investments in learning and development. Regional capacity increased over the past year from 1,549 employees to 1,716 employees as of March 31, 2020. As well, employees are enabled by technical and logistical support wherever they are located.

Workplace Wellness / Mental Health

As the COVID-19 pandemic hit Canada in mid-March 2020, SSC was quick to enable and equip its workforce with the tools and technology required to work from home. For example, the accelerated deployment of Microsoft 365 (M365) across the Department further enabled collaboration and communication between employees. SSC’s Ombudsman and Mental Health Champions also encouraged employees to practice self-care to help boost resilience and mental wellness. A Virtual Mental Health Kiosk was launched, in addition to the delivery of several Employee Assistance Program (EAP) sessions to employees across the country.

Employment equity

SSC has demonstrated an increase in the number of Women, Indigenous people, Visible minorities and Persons with disabilities, during the reporting period as shown below:

  March 31st, 2019 March 31st, 2020
SSC Employment Equity population 6,425 6,677
Women 2,155 2,200
Indigenous People 193 205
Visible Minorities 1,094 1,177
Persons with disabilities 360 366

Conclusion

SSC will be leveraging GBA+ to monitor gaps and to identify innovative strategies to address them: focusing specifically on the recruitment of women into the CS group; continuing to increase the intake of Indigenous employees; removing technological barriers to help fully integrate employees with disabilities: preventing and eliminating discrimination; and providing support to employees and victims of discrimination. Progress will be monitored through Human Resources dashboards.

Highlights of GBA+ Results by Program

Shared Services Canada

SSC, as a centralized Information Technology (IT) service provider, primarily delivers services to public servants and to its partners across the federal public service.

Initial discussions have taken place with stakeholders within SSC regarding the development of data collection and analysis tools to report information on departmental programs, in order to measure future results. During 2020–21, additional work will be undertaken to improve data capabilities.

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