Public Service Employee Survey (PSES) results: Sexual orientation

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 LGBTQ2+ group included respondents who answered the question “What is your sexual orientation?” by selecting “Gay or lesbian”, “Bisexual” or “Or please specify”. The comparison group included respondents who selected “Heterosexual”. Currently available data in PSES only covers sexual orientation. We aim to include in future iteration of the PSES questions related to identity to provide a comprehensive view of the LGBTQ2+ community experience and enhance inclusion.
- 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.

Sexual orientation results

In this section

In the 2020 PSES, 9,676 respondents identified as gay or lesbian, bisexual, or another sexual orientation.

The Sexual Orientation results included respondents who answered the question “What is your sexual orientation?” by selecting “Gay or lesbian”, “Bisexual” or “Or please specify”. The comparison group included respondents who selected “Heterosexual”. Currently available data in PSES only covers sexual orientation. We aim to include in future iteration of the PSES questions related to gender identity and inclusion to provide a comprehensive view of the LGBTQ2+ community experience.

Engagement

**Liked their job**
	Liked their job	Did not agree that they liked their job
	84	16

3% points increase from 2019

**Would recommend their organization as a great place to work**
	Would recommend their organization as a great place to work	Did not agree that they would recommend their organization as a great place to work
	74	26

4% points increase from 2019

Empowerment

**Felt they have opportunities to provide input**
	Felt they have opportunities to provide input	Did not agree that they felt they have opportunities to provide input
	69	31

3% points increase from 2019

**Received recognition for their work well done**
	Received recognition for their work well done	Did not agree that they received recognition for their work well done
	69	31

2% points increase from 2019

Comparative results

Felt the people they work with value their ideas and opinions:

Sexual orientation

82%

All other employees

83%

Believed their organization does a good job of supporting employee career development:

Sexual orientation

62%

All other employees

63%

Were satisfied with how interpersonal issues are resolved:

Sexual orientation

64%

All other employees

66%

Believed their organization respects individual differences (e.g., culture, work styles, ideas, abilities):

Sexual orientation

74%

All other employees

79%

Felt they have support at work to balance their work and personal life:

Sexual orientation

74%

All other employees

78%

Felt they can initiate a formal recourse process (e.g., grievance, complaint, appeal) without fear of reprisal:

Sexual orientation

55%

All other employees

58%

Workplace well-being

Experienced "high" or "very high" levels of work-related stress

Sexual orientation

22%

All other employees

17%

Felt emotionally drained

Sexual orientation

37%

All other employees

29%

Felt comfortable sharing concerns with their immediate supervisor about mental health

Sexual orientation

78%

All other employees

82%

Felt their workplace is psychologically healthy

Sexual orientation

63%

All other employees

70%

Diversity and inclusion

**Felt that every employee in their work unit is accepted as an equal member**
	Felt that every employee in their work unit is accepted as an equal member	Did not agree that every employee in their work unit is accepted as an equal member
	78	22

4% points increase from 2019

**Felt their organization implemented activities and practices that support a diverse workplace**
	Felt their organization implemented activities and practices that support a diverse workplace	Did not agree that their organization implemented activities and practices that support a diverse workplace
	74	26

3% points decrease from 2019

**Felt their organization treats them with respect**
	Felt their organization treats them with respect	Did not agree that their organization treats them with respect
	84	16

1% point increase from 2019

**Experienced harassment* in the workplace in the last 12 months**
	Experienced harassment in the workplace in the last 12 months	Did not experience harassment in the workplace in the last 12 months
	14	86

3% points decrease from 2019

* Offensive remarks (57%) was the most common type of harassment.

**Were satisfied with how matters related to harassment are resolved in their department or agency**
	Were satisfied with how matters related to harassment are resolved in their department or agency	Did not agree that they were satisfied with how matters related to harassment are resolved in their department or agency
	53	47

4% point increase from 2019

**Experienced discrimination† in the workplace in the last 12 months**
	Experienced discrimination in the workplace in the last 12 months	Did not experience discrimination in the workplace in the last 12 months
	10	90

1% point decrease from 2019

† Sexual orientation (35%) was the most common type of discrimination.

Gay or lesbian results

In this section

In the 2020 PSES, 4,712 respondents identified as gay or lesbian.

Engagement

**Liked their job**
	Liked their job	Did not agree that they liked their job
	80	20

1% point increase from 2019

**Would recommend their organization as a great place to work**
	Would recommend their organization as a great place to work	Did not agree that they would recommend their organization as a great place to work
	73	27

3% points increase from 2019

Empowerment

**Felt they have opportunities to provide input**
	Felt they have opportunities to provide input	Did not agree that they felt they have opportunities to provide input
	70	30

2% points increase from 2019

**Received recognition for their work well done**
	Received recognition for their work well done	Did not agree that they received recognition for their work well done
	69	31

3% points increase from 2019

Comparative results

Felt the people they work with value their ideas and opinions:

Gay or lesbian employees

81%

All other employees

83%

Believed their organization does a good job of supporting employee career development:

Gay or lesbian employees

61%

All other employees

63%

Were satisfied with how interpersonal issues are resolved:

Gay or lesbian employees

64%

All other employees

66%

Believed their organization respects individual differences (e.g., culture, work styles, ideas, abilities):

Gay or lesbian employees

74%

All other employees

79%

Felt they have support at work to balance their work and personal life:

Gay or lesbian employees

73%

All other employees

78%

Felt they can initiate a formal recourse process (e.g., grievance, complaint, appeal) without fear of reprisal:

Gay or lesbian employees

80%

All other employees

81%

Workplace well-being

Experienced "high" or "very high" levels of work-related stress

Gay or lesbian employees

21%

All other employees

17%

Felt emotionally drained

Gay or lesbian employees

35%

All other employees

30%

Felt comfortable sharing concerns with their immediate supervisor about mental health

Gay or lesbian employees

67%

All other employees

71%

Felt their workplace is psychologically healthy

Gay or lesbian employees

64%

All other employees

70%

Diversity and inclusion

**Felt that every employee in their work unit is accepted as an equal member**
	Felt that every employee in their work unit is accepted as an equal member	Did not agree that every employee in their work unit is accepted as an equal member
	78	22

2% points increase from 2019

**Felt their organization implemented activities and practices that support a diverse workplace**
	Felt their organization implemented activities and practices that support a diverse workplace	Did not agree that their organization implemented activities and practices that support a diverse workplace
	75	25

3% points decrease from 2019

**Felt their organization treats them with respect**
	Felt their organization treats them with respect	Did not agree that their organization treats them with respect
	84	16

1% point increase from 2019

**Experienced harassment* in the workplace in the last 12 months**
	Experienced harassment in the workplace in the last 12 months	Did not experience harassment in the workplace in the last 12 months
	13	87

2% points decrease from 2019

* Offensive remarks (55%) was the most common type of harassment.

**Were satisfied with how matters related to harassment are resolved in their department or agency**
	Were satisfied with how matters related to harassment are resolved in their department or agency	Did not agree that they were satisfied with how matters related to harassment are resolved in their department or agency
	54	46

4% points decrease from 2019

**Experienced discrimination† in the workplace in the last 12 months**
	Experienced discrimination in the workplace in the last 12 months	Did not experience discrimination in the workplace in the last 12 months
	10	90

Unchanged from 2019

† Sexual orientation (61%) was the most common type of discrimination.

Bisexual results

In this section

In the 2020 PSES, 3,913 respondents identified as bisexual.

Engagement

**Liked their job**
	Liked their job	Did not agree that they liked their job
	80	20

1% point increase from 2019

**Would recommend their organization as a great place to work**
	Would recommend their organization as a great place to work	Did not agree that they would recommend their organization as a great place to work
	75	25

3% points increase from 2019

Empowerment

**Felt they have opportunities to provide input**
	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

**Received recognition for their work well done**
	Received recognition for their work well done	Did not agree that they received recognition for their work well done
	70	30

3% points increase from 2019

Comparative results

Felt the people they work with value their ideas and opinions:

Bisexual employees

82%

All other employees

83%

Believed their organization does a good job of supporting employee career development:

Bisexual employees

65%

All other employees

63%

Were satisfied with how interpersonal issues are resolved:

Bisexual employees

65%

All other employees

66%

Believed their organization respects individual differences (e.g., culture, work styles, ideas, abilities):

Bisexual employees

76%

All other employees

79%

Felt they have support at work to balance their work and personal life:

Bisexual employees

76%

All other employees

78%

Felt they can initiate a formal recourse process (e.g., grievance, complaint, appeal) without fear of reprisal:

Bisexual employees

80%

All other employees

81%

Workplace well-being

Experienced "high" or "very high" levels of work-related stress

Bisexual employees

22%

All other employees

17%

Felt emotionally drained

Bisexual employees

38%

All other employees

30%

Felt comfortable sharing concerns with their immediate supervisor about mental health

Bisexual employees

66%

All other employees

71%

Felt their workplace is psychologically healthy

Bisexual employees

64%

All other employees

70%

Diversity and inclusion

**Felt that every employee in their work unit is accepted as an equal member**
	Felt that every employee in their work unit is accepted as an equal member	Did not agree that every employee in their work unit is accepted as an equal member
	78	22

4% points increase from 2019

**Felt their organization implemented activities and practices that support a diverse workplace**
	Felt their organization implemented activities and practices that support a diverse workplace	Did not agree that their organization implemented activities and practices that support a diverse workplace
	75	25

2% points decrease from 2019

**Felt their organization treats them with respect**
	Felt their organization treats them with respect	Did not agree that their organization treats them with respect
	85	15

2% points increase from 2019

**Experienced harassment* in the workplace in the last 12 months**
	Experienced harassment in the workplace in the last 12 months	Did not experience harassment in the workplace in the last 12 months
	14	86

4% points decrease from 2019

* Offensive remarks (60%) was the most common type of harassment.

**Were satisfied with how matters related to harassment are resolved in their department or agency**
	Were satisfied with how matters related to harassment are resolved in their department or agency	Did not agree that they were satisfied with how matters related to harassment are resolved in their department or agency
	53	47

5% points decrease from 2019

**Experienced discrimination† in the workplace in the last 12 months**
	Experienced discrimination in the workplace in the last 12 months	Did not experience discrimination in the workplace in the last 12 months
	9	91

2% points decrease from 2019

† Sex (36%) was the most common type of discrimination.

Another sexual orientation results

In this section

In the 2020 PSES, 1,051 respondents identified as another sexual orientation.

Engagement

**Liked their job**
	Liked their job	Did not agree that they liked their job
	79	21

4% points increase from 2019

**Would recommend their organization as a great place to work**
	Would recommend their organization as a great place to work	Did not agree that they would recommend their organization as a great place to work
	73	27

6% points increase from 2019

Empowerment

**Felt they have opportunities to provide input**
	Felt they have opportunities to provide input	Did not agree that they felt they have opportunities to provide input
	66	34

2% points increase from 2019

**Received recognition for their work well done**
	Received recognition for their work well done	Did not agree that they received recognition for their work well done
	69	31

3% points increase from 2019