Consulting employees was a critical element in the development of Statistics Canada: Road to Accessibility. This first plan is to improve the employee experience by making persons with disabilities and those experiencing barriers the centre of all actions planned for the next three years. To this end, consultations allowed StatCan to have the proper information and data to help define the possible barriers and desired states for all areas under the ACA. Furthermore, consultation helped define which actions should be prioritized in Statistics Canada: Road to Accessibility.
As we shift our focus outside the agency, we will consult Canadians who use StatCan programs and services to inform future iterations of the plan.
Employee consultation on the current state
Accessibility assessment by an external firm
From March to October 2022, an in-depth and independent accessibility assessment was conducted by an external firm using qualitative and quantitative data. This external review, which served to ensure a bias-free view of accessibility barriers, was centred around data analysis, document review, employee consultations and focus groups. Preliminary findings on barriers have informed the actions articulated in Statistics Canada: Road to Accessibility. The final report, due by the fall of 2022, will serve to influence and inform future actions in future iterations of the plan.
Throughout their review, the consultants ensured that the perspectives of persons with disabilities and those experiencing barriers were accounted for. They also verified the accessibility of our employment policies and practices. During the process, all employees were invited to participate on multiple occasions and 70 employees were interviewed virtually on the topics required under the ACA. Most of the interviews took place from April to June 2022. Participants were from varied equity seeking groups and sociocultural backgrounds to ensure an intersectional perspective. Those participants included
- the PwDC and its co-chairs
- the Champion for persons with disabilities
- employees with disabilities and those experiencing barriers
- members of other employee networks, such as women, visible minorities Indigenous people and 2SLGBTQI+
- area lead(s)
Employment and Accessibility Survey in collaboration with Canadian Heritage
In addition to the external review, StatCan launched the Engaging DisAbility Innovation Study, an employee-led collaboration with Canadian Heritage, which was supported by the Office of Public Service Accessibility.
In February 2022, the 2022 Employment and Accessibility Survey was provided to StatCan employees and received a 49.2% participation rate (4,226 employees). The survey included 41 questions on recruitment, retention, promotion and workplace accommodation and asked respondents to comment on their experiences with perceived employment barriers at StatCan. The survey was designed by StatCan survey methodologists who ensured that it was accessible to all employees.
The first phase of the survey was conducted online using an accessible format, and the second phase gather employee insights using an online engagement platform, Recollective. Both phases of the survey were available to all employees across the regions, and, in October 2022, the results were presented in a report on the barriers to the employee journey.
Data reports
In November 2021, StatCan launched the Employee Wellness Survey to assess employees' psychological health and to provide a better understanding of the key drivers of psychological health. The survey results were published in the fall of 2022.
The 2020 Public Service Employee Survey (PSES) measured federal government employees' opinions about their engagement, leadership, workforce, workplace, workplace well-being, compensation, diversity and inclusion, and the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Persons with Disabilities Committee and StatCan-ALT working group involvement
- The PwDC were presented with the plan structure and have been crucial in shaping the plan.
- Members with different disabilities issued recommendations to guide area leads in their action plans.
- Relevant partners participated in the StatCan-ALT working group. Any individual interested in accessibility was welcome to attend. This accessibility working group has 20 members in regular attendance from diverse backgrounds, locations and positions and who have various disabilities. The StatCan-ALT group meets virtually on a bimonthly basis to discuss actions to improve accessibility, present information on each area and share helpful practices.
Engagement on the plan
Disability stakeholders
The National Educational Association of Disabled Students, the Employment Accessibility Resource Network, Realize, ACT (Accessible Career Transitions) to Employ and Carleton University students were invited to provide comments on the draft plan for employment, in the format of their choice. This feedback was assessed and added to the plan.
Employees
- The PwDC, which is composed of 65 members, was consulted on the following occasions:
- On June 14, 2022, PwDC members received the activities proposed by all area leads and approved the plan of actions.
- From July to September 2022, PwDC members were invited to provide comments on the identified barriers and the proposed actions in an electronic version of the plan draft. Feedback could be sent electronically or be given over the phone, by video conference or in the group meeting.
- In mid-November 2022, PwDC members were presented with the version that would be sent for approval to the chief statistician and informed of the recommended changes.
- In November 2022, PwDC members received the final version that was approved by the chief statistician.
- The Champion for persons with disabilities provided feedback on an early version of the plan in August and again in September.
- The StatCan-ALT, the working group and internal senior management committees were given time to read and assess the plan.