Using the data

In 2023 Waterloo began the process of collecting employee equity data through a census program (Workday). Equity, diversity, and inclusion are values that help create fairer, more accessible workplaces for all. Waterloo committed to making our campus a more equitable space through the Waterloo at 100 vision, actions to address reconciliation, and the President’s Anti-racism Task Force.

This data is now available to the university community. This data can be used to:

• understand the university employee community
• inform how we develop programs and services
• assess representation, participation, and outcomes in programs and services
• offer insight into how Waterloo’s population is / is not similar to other comparable communities

The socio-demographic data will not be used to identify individuals.

All employees can benefit from a better understanding of our workplace to improve the university community, our services and processes, and increase positive outcomes for racialized, marginalized, and excluded groups.

Employees can use this data to:

• develop or implement programs and services
• analyze and provide advice about how services will impact our community
• work on strategy and planning about types of services to offer, or how existing services can be better calibrated; and
• build an inclusive and supportive environment

Common research questions this data can help answer include:

• Who is participating in my program or service? Who is not?
• What are the socio-demographic perspectives that we should consider in developing processes / services for employees?
• Who is progressing in my program? Who is not?
• Who is being affected by this policy?

Is this the right criteria for my scholarship or bursary?

• Disability
• Indigenous identity
• racial identity
• gender identity
• Pronouns
• Sexual identity
• Religious or spiritual affiliation
• Family education background
• Canadian residency status

Data can be provided by a variety of different variables.

1. Check out the overall results from the 2021 Equity Census by looking at summary reports. Reports are broken out by students and employees.
2. If your work centers on employees, check out some of our common breakdowns (Faculty and by Employee group) in our employee dashboard. You will be prompted to log-in with your University of Waterloo credentials to access the reports. This information is confidential and for internal use.
3. University stakeholders who need a more specific set of data can request a customized data report by email, or through our requisition process.

If you haven’t participated in the Employee Equity Census it’s available to complete now in your Workday profile and only takes a few minutes to complete. For more information on how to complete it, visit the Equity Data Strategy website.