Employment equity survey designed to achieve representative workforce at U of G
The Human Rights and Equity Office is distributing an employment equity survey this week to all new U of G employees who have been hired into a full- or part-time position or a contract position of at least three months.
A full census of the University's employees was conducted in February 2000, but employee data need to be updated periodically so U of G has an accurate picture of the composition of its workforce and can measure progress towards achieving a workforce that reflects the Canadian labour pool, says Patrick Case, director of human rights and equity.
Case notes that Guelph has been formally committed to an employment equity program for 17 years. “Since then, we have made progress in achieving a more representative workforce and need to continue our efforts to foster an equitable workplace.”
Under the Federal Contractors Program introduced by Ottawa in 1987, organizations that have more than 100 employees and want to be eligible for federal contracts of $200,000 or more must demonstrate a commitment to implementing employment equity. This means employers must work with employees to identify and remove systemic barriers to the selection, hiring, promotion and training of four designated groups — Aboriginal Peoples, members of visible minorities, women and people with disabilities. Employers must also take steps to increase the participation of these groups at all levels of employment.
In U of G's employment equity survey, employees are asked to self-identify their group status, stating whether they are a member of the four designated groups. “Employees are in the best position to provide us with this information,” says Case.
He notes that although filling out the survey is voluntary, “I really hope everyone will participate because having accurate information is vital to our efforts towards achieving a representative workforce.”
Case stresses that information provided by employees will be held in strict confidence and will be used only for employment equity purposes
He adds that any employee who chooses not to respond to the questions on the employment equity survey is still required to return the blank survey form with his or her employee number on it.
Anyone with a central login e-mail account can submit the survey electronically at www.webapps.ccs.uoguelph.ca/hreo/authenticate.cfm.
For more information, call the Human Rights and Equity Office at Ext. 53000 or visit the website www.uoguelph.ca/hre/eeindex.htm.
