Message from the Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet, March 21, 2002
Many of you will remember that in 1999, I invited you to join me in completing the first ever Public Service-wide Employee Survey. Some 104,000 of you took me up on the offer. Your input provided important information about how you viewed your work and your workplace.
In the 1999 Survey, you told us that you were proud of your jobs and that you find your work important and challenging. However, you also indicated that we needed to improve on a number of issues such as harassment, discrimination, workload and career development.
Central agencies, departments and agencies responded by launching a number of initiatives. A lot has been accomplished in the last three years. But have we done enough? Have workplace issues changed? Do those who have joined the Public Service since the last Survey have a different perspective? To address these questions, I have asked that a second Survey be conducted. This Survey will include many of the questions you saw in the 1999 Survey and will also ask new questions on official languages, health and safety, values and ethics, retention and labour management relations.
I am pleased to report that, for the first time, unions were represented in the Interdepartmental Committee which developed this Survey.
Your Deputy Minister/Head of Agency and I are asking you once again to take the time to fill out this important survey. We can only address your concerns if we know what they are. Although your participation is voluntary, the greater number of employees who participate, the more accurate and representative will be the results in regards to your workplaces and at the Public Service-wide level. Please be assured that your responses will be anonymous and confidential.
The results of this second Survey will enable us to measure our progress since 1999 and to chart a way forward for the future.
I believe that making the Public Service of Canada a great place to work is everyone’s business. I, therefore, invite you to make a difference.
Thank you.
Mel Cappe
Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet