Employment Equity is a program legislated by the federal Employment Equity Act and the Federal Contractors Program to remove barriers to employment for Aboriginal people, persons with disabilities, visible minorities and women. Like many equity initiatives, employment equity is ongoing and the University of Waterloo works to identify and eliminate employment barriers that may exist in procedures and policies. An employment equity program attempts to achieve a workforce that reflects the diversity of the available labour force.
All employees – faculty, staff and students – are being asked to complete a new Employment Equity survey which will provide updated information. When completed, the Employment Equity Survey results will give us a better picture of our workforce and enable an analysis of our employment equity gaps. Information is confidential and only aggregate information is included in the annual Employment Equity report provided to the Federal Government and posted on the University's website. The information is used by various offices at the University in determining programs and initiatives for the upcoming year.
In order to maintain compliance with the Government of Canada’s Federal Contractors Program, the University of Waterloo is re-surveying all existing employees to collect workforce information. The goal of this program is to achieve workplace equality for designated groups in the Canadian labour market, including: women, Aboriginal peoples, persons with disabilities, and members of visible minorities. Information on the Federal Contractors Program (FCP) may be found on the Government of Canada's website.
All full-time regular Faculty, Staff and CUPE members will be requested to complete the survey by logging into myHRinfo and their logins will be directed to the questionnaire until it is either completed or acknowledged. All other employees can complete the survey by logging into myHRinfo and navigating to Self Service --> Employment Equity Survey --> Submit Survey.
Employees who perform administrative tasks in myHRinfo are advised to acknowledge the survey as soon as possible. Employees who have completed the paper-based survey since January 1, 2016 will not be redirected to the survey.
This survey is confidential and voluntary, however the Federal Contractors Program requires all employees to either complete the survey or to indicate they are choosing to opt out of answering the questions. When you complete the Employment Equity Survey, you are counted in the workforce analysis. Specific information on individuals will not be released, or become part of an employee’s or student’s Human Resources file.
The survey has four questions, takes approximately two minutes, and employees will be provided up to 30 minutes during work hours to complete it. A paper copy of the survey will be provided to all employees without access to myHRinfo during their workday. Please contact Human Resources if you require a paper copy.
Every Monday for the month of March, the Daily Bulletin will be posting reminders, including a visual representation of the number of employees who have completed the survey.
More information can be found on the Human Resources Employment equity webpage.