Public Service Employee Survey (PSES) results: Women
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About the data
-
Methodological notes
- The dashboards were designed in collaboration with policy centres to provide a visual snapshot of PSES results for various groups represented in the PSES by selecting specific questions to highlight the workplace experiences of these employees. The dashboards complement other PSES products and provide information to support the continuous improvement of people management practices in the federal public service.
- Percentages reflect the affirmative responses (i.e., the sum of “Strongly agree” and “Somewhat agree”; the sum of “Always/Almost always” and “Often”; the sum of “Very high” and “High”; the sum of "To a large extent" and "To a very large extent"; “Yes”; or the selected response from a list).
- Percentages exclude the “Don’t know” and “Not applicable” response categories.
- Generally, upwards arrows indicate a positive outcome and downwards arrows indicate a negative outcome.
- For most questions, a higher percentage represents a positive outcome (upward pointing arrow) and a lower percentage represents a negative outcome (downward pointing arrow).
- For certain questions (e.g., harassment and discrimination, work-related stress), a higher percentage represents a negative outcome (upward pointing arrow) and a lower percentage represents a positive outcome (downward pointing arrow).
- The comparison group for each sub-type includes the rest of respondents not in that sub-group. The comparison group, or ‘Other’ group, includes all respondents who answered “No” to the first referenced question (such as “Are you an Indigenous person?”) and all respondents who answered “Yes” to the first referenced question but did not select the sub-group.
- The 2020 PSES results by employment equity groups can be found on the Open Government Portal by accessing the EEInfoDV dataset.
Source: 2020 Public Service Employee Survey
Results for all questions are available on the PSES webpage and on the Open Government Portal.
Women results
In the 2020 PSES, 111,621 respondents identified as a woman.
Engagement
| Got a sense of satisfaction from their work | Did not agree that they got a sense of satisfaction from their work | |
|---|---|---|
| 81 | 19 |
2% points increase from 2019
| Felt valued at work | Did not agree that they felt valued at work | |
|---|---|---|
| 73 | 27 |
4% points increase from 2019
Empowerment
| Felt encouraged to be innovative | Did not agree that they felt encouraged to be innovative | |
|---|---|---|
| 73 | 27 |
3% points increase from 2019
| Felt they have opportunities to provide input | Did not agree that they felt they have opportunities to provide input | |
|---|---|---|
| 72 | 28 |
4% points increase from 2019
Comparative results
Believed senior managers take adequate steps to support mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic:
Women
72%
All other employees
68%
Were satisfied with how their organization is protecting their physical health and safety during the pandemic:
Women
84%
All other employees
78%
Believed their organization does a good job of supporting employee career development:
Women
64%
All other employees
59%
Believed they had opportunities for promotion within organization:
Women
57%
All other employees
53%
Were satisfied with how interpersonal issues are resolved:
Women
64%
All other employees
66%
Believed their organization does a good job of promoting work values and ethics:
Women
76%
All other employees
73%
Workplace well-being
| Experienced "high" or "very high" levels of work-related stress | Did not agree that they experienced “high” or “very high” levels of work-related stress | |
|---|---|---|
| 18 | 82 |
2% points increase from 2019
| Felt emotionally drained | Did not agree that they felt emotionally drained | |
|---|---|---|
| 33 | 67 |
3% points increase from 2019
| Felt their workplace is psychologically healthy | Did not agree that they felt their workplace is psychologically healthy | |
|---|---|---|
| 70 | 30 |
8% points increase from 2019
| Organization did a good job of raising mental health awareness | Did not agree that their organization did a good job of raising mental health awareness | |
|---|---|---|
| 83 | 17 |
8% points increase from 2019
Diversity and inclusion
| Felt that every employee in their work unit is accepted as an equal member | Did not agree that they felt that every employee in their work unit is accepted as an equal member | |
|---|---|---|
| 78 | 22 |
1% point decrease from 2019
| Felt their ideas and opinions are valued | Did not agree that they felt their ideas and opinions are valued | |
|---|---|---|
| 82 | 18 |
3% points increase from 2019
| Felt their organization implemented activities and practices that support a diverse workplace | Did not agree that they felt their organization implemented activities and practices that support a diverse workplace | |
|---|---|---|
| 80 | 20 |
1% point decrease from 2019
| Experienced harassment in the workplace in the last 12 months | Did not experience harassment in the workplace in the last 12 months | |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | 89 |
3% points decrease from 2019
* Offensive remarks (55%) was the most common type of harassment.
| Experienced discrimination in the workplace in the last 12 months | Did not experience discrimination in the workplace in the last 12 months | |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | 93 |
1% point decrease from 2019
† Sex (33%) was the most common type of discrimination.
Visible Minority Women results
In the 2020 PSES, 21,611 respondents identified as a visible minority female.
Engagement
| Got a sense of satisfaction from their work | Did not agree that they got a sense of satisfaction from their work | |
|---|---|---|
| 79 | 21 |
1% point increase from 2019
| Felt valued at work | Did not agree that they felt valued at work | |
|---|---|---|
| 72 | 28 |
3% points increase from 2019
Empowerment
| Felt encouraged to be innovative | Did not agree that they felt encouraged to be innovative | |
|---|---|---|
| 71 | 29 |
3% points increase from 2019
| Felt they have opportunities to provide input | Did not agree that they felt they have opportunities to provide input | |
|---|---|---|
| 71 | 29 |
4% points increase from 2019
Comparative results
Believed senior managers take adequate steps to support mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic:
2020 Visible Minority Women
72%
2019 Visible Minority Women
New question
Were satisfied with how their organization is protecting their physical health and safety during the pandemic:
2020 Visible Minority Women
84%
2019 Visible Minority Women
New question
Believed their organization does a good job of supporting employee career development:
2020 Visible Minority Women
62%
2019 Visible Minority Women
58%
Believed they had opportunities for promotion within organization:
2020 Visible Minority Women
55%
2019 Visible Minority Women
53%
Were satisfied with how interpersonal issues are resolved:
2020 Visible Minority Women
64%
2019 Visible Minority Women
63%
Believed their organization does a good job of promoting work values and ethics:
2020 Visible Minority Women
73%
2019 Visible Minority Women
69%
Workplace well-being
| Experienced "high" or "very high" levels of work-related stress | Did not agree that they experienced “high” or “very high” levels of work-related stress | |
|---|---|---|
| 18 | 82 |
3% points increase from 2019
| Felt emotionally drained | Did not agree that they felt emotionally drained | |
|---|---|---|
| 31 | 69 |
4% points increase from 2019
| Felt their workplace is psychologically healthy | Did not agree that they felt their workplace is psychologically healthy | |
|---|---|---|
| 69 | 31 |
7% points increase from 2019
| Organization did a good job of raising mental health awareness | Did not agree that their organization did a good job of raising mental health awareness | |
|---|---|---|
| 82 | 18 |
9% points increase from 2019
Diversity and inclusion
| Felt that every employee in their work unit is accepted as an equal member | Did not agree that they felt that every employee in their work unit is accepted as an equal member | |
|---|---|---|
| 77 | 23 |
3% points increase from 2019
| Felt their ideas and opinions are valued | Did not agree that they felt their ideas and opinions are valued | |
|---|---|---|
| 80 | 20 |
2% points increase from 2019
| Felt their organization implemented activities and practices that support a diverse workplace | Did not agree that they felt their organization implemented activities and practices that support a diverse workplace | |
|---|---|---|
| 75 | 25 |
2% points decrease from 2019
| Experienced harassment in the workplace in the last 12 months | Did not experience harassment in the workplace in the last 12 months | |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | 88 |
3% points decrease from 2019
* Offensive remark and unfair treatment (55%) were the most common types of harassment.
| Experienced discrimination in the workplace in the last 12 months | Did not experience discrimination in the workplace in the last 12 months | |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | 89 |
1% point decrease from 2019
† Race (59%) was the most common type of discrimination.
Women with a Disability results
In the 2020 PSES, 9,896 respondents identified as a female with a disability.
Engagement
| Got a sense of satisfaction from their work | Did not agree that they got a sense of satisfaction from their work | |
|---|---|---|
| 74 | 26 |
3% points increase from 2019
| Felt valued at work | Did not agree that they felt valued at work | |
|---|---|---|
| 62 | 38 |
5% points increase from 2019
Empowerment
| Felt encouraged to be innovative | Did not agree that they felt encouraged to be innovative | |
|---|---|---|
| 64 | 36 |
5% points increase from 2019
| Felt they have opportunities to provide input | Did not agree that they felt they have opportunities to provide input | |
|---|---|---|
| 62 | 38 |
5% points increase from 2019
Comparative results
Believed senior managers take adequate steps to support mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic:
2020 Women with a Disability
62%
2019 Women with a Disability
New question
Were satisfied with how their organization is protecting their physical health and safety during the pandemic:
2020 Women with a Disability
79%
2019 Women with a Disability
New question
Believed their organization does a good job of supporting employee career development:
2020 Women with a Disability
52%
2019 Women with a Disability
45%
Believed they had opportunities for promotion within organization:
2020 Women with a Disability
44%
2019 Women with a Disability
37%
Were satisfied with how interpersonal issues are resolved:
2020 Women with a Disability
55%
2019 Women with a Disability
52%
Believed their organization does a good job of promoting work values and ethics:
2020 Women with a Disability
67%
2019 Women with a Disability
61%
Workplace well-being
| Experienced "high" or "very high" levels of work-related stress | Did not agree that they experienced “high” or “very high” levels of work-related stress | |
|---|---|---|
| 28 | 72 |
1% point decrease from 2019
| Felt emotionally drained | Did not agree that they felt emotionally drained | |
|---|---|---|
| 46 | 54 |
Unchanged from 2019
| Felt their workplace is psychologically healthy | Did not agree that they felt their workplace is psychologically healthy | |
|---|---|---|
| 57 | 43 |
10% points increase from 2019
| Organization did a good job of raising mental health awareness | Did not agree that their organization did a good job of raising mental health awareness | |
|---|---|---|
| 76 | 24 |
10% points increase from 2019
Diversity and inclusion
| Felt that every employee in their work unit is accepted as an equal member | Did not agree that they felt that every employee in their work unit is accepted as an equal member | |
|---|---|---|
| 67 | 33 |
6% points increase from 2019
| Felt their ideas and opinions are valued | Did not agree that they felt their ideas and opinions are valued | |
|---|---|---|
| 72 | 28 |
4% points increase from 2019
| Felt their organization implemented activities and practices that support a diverse workplace | Did not agree that they felt their organization implemented activities and practices that support a diverse workplace | |
|---|---|---|
| 71 | 29 |
1% point increase from 2019
| Experienced harassment in the workplace in the last 12 months | Did not experience harassment in the workplace in the last 12 months | |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | 78 |
7% points decrease from 2019
* Unfair treatment (60%) was the most common type of harassment.
| Experienced discrimination in the workplace in the last 12 months | Did not experience discrimination in the workplace in the last 12 months | |
|---|---|---|
| 19 | 81 |
5% points decrease from 2019
† Disability (60%) was the most common type of discrimination.
Indigenous Women results
In the 2020 PSES, 5,009 respondents identified as an Indigenous female.
Engagement
| Got a sense of satisfaction from their work | Did not agree that they got a sense of satisfaction from their work | |
|---|---|---|
| 79 | 21 |
1% point decrease from 2019
| Felt valued at work | Did not agree that they felt valued at work | |
|---|---|---|
| 69 | 31 |
3% points increase from 2019
Empowerment
| Felt encouraged to be innovative | Did not agree that they felt encouraged to be innovative | |
|---|---|---|
| 71 | 29 |
3% points decrease from 2019
| Felt they have opportunities to provide input | Did not agree that they felt they have opportunities to provide input | |
|---|---|---|
| 69 | 31 |
4% points increase from 2019
Comparative results
Believed senior managers take adequate steps to support mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic:
2020 Indigenous Women
69%
2019 Indigenous Women
New question
Were satisfied with how their organization is protecting their physical health and safety during the pandemic:
2020 Indigenous Women
80%
2019 Indigenous Women
New question
Believed their organization does a good job of supporting employee career development:
2020 Indigenous Women
62%
2019 Indigenous Women
57%
Believed they had opportunities for promotion within organization:
2020 Indigenous Women
55%
2019 Indigenous Women
52%
Were satisfied with how interpersonal issues are resolved:
2020 Indigenous Women
59%
2019 Indigenous Women
58%
Believed their organization does a good job of promoting work values and ethics:
2020 Indigenous Women
71%
2019 Indigenous Women
66%
Workplace well-being
| Experienced "high" or "very high" levels of work-related stress | Did not agree that they experienced “high” or “very high” levels of work-related stress | |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | 80 |
1% point increase from 2019
| Felt emotionally drained | Did not agree that they felt emotionally drained | |
|---|---|---|
| 38 | 62 |
3% points increase from 2019
| Felt their workplace is psychologically healthy | Did not agree that they felt their workplace is psychologically healthy | |
|---|---|---|
| 65 | 35 |
8% points increase from 2019
| Organization did a good job of raising mental health awareness | Did not agree that their organization did a good job of raising mental health awareness | |
|---|---|---|
| 79 | 21 |
8% points increase from 2019
Diversity and inclusion
| Felt that every employee in their work unit is accepted as an equal member | Did not agree that they felt that every employee in their work unit is accepted as an equal member | |
|---|---|---|
| 71 | 29 |
2% points increase from 2019
| Felt their ideas and opinions are valued | Did not agree that they felt their ideas and opinions are valued | |
|---|---|---|
| 77 | 23 |
3% points increase from 2019
| Felt their organization implemented activities and practices that support a diverse workplace | Did not agree that they felt their organization implemented activities and practices that support a diverse workplace | |
|---|---|---|
| 77 | 23 |
1% point increase from 2019
| Experienced harassment in the workplace in the last 12 months | Did not experience harassment in the workplace in the last 12 months | |
|---|---|---|
| 17 | 83 |
5% points decrease from 2019
* Unfair treatment (54%) was the most common type of harassment.
| Experienced discrimination in the workplace in the last 12 months | Did not experience discrimination in the workplace in the last 12 months | |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | 89 |
2% points decrease from 2019
† Race (37%) was the most common type of discrimination.
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