Equity Census - Frequently Asked Questions

Employment equity means ensuring that all job applicants and employees have a fair chance in the workplace. This is achieved when no one is denied employment opportunities or benefits for reasons unrelated to ability.

Why is employment equity necessary?

Employment equity is necessary because four designated groups (women, Aboriginal/Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, and visible minorities) have historically experienced much more limited employment opportunities compared to the overall population in Canada. Employment equity measures are aimed at removing intentional discrimination and systematic barriers which prevent their full participation in the workforce.

What is intentional discrimination?

Overt or intentional discrimination is the granting or denying of certain opportunities to certain groups of individuals. An example would be denying someone employment because of gender.

What are systemic barriers?

Systemic barriers are practices and policies that appear neutral but actually have a negative impact on certain groups and are not reasonable or bona fide. Arbitrary screening criteria and requests for training or work experience unrelated to actual job performance are examples of systemic barriers in the hiring process.

How will Carleton develop employment equity programs?

Employment equity is a process that typically involves four steps:
- conducting a workforce survey;
- undertaking an employment systems review;
- developing an employment equity plan; and
- reviewing and revising the plan.

Will persons in the majority be disadvantaged in any way?

Definitely not. Our employment equity program does not include quotas. What is intended is a positive program to ensure that our practices are fair for all, and that the best qualified individuals are hired and promoted, based on the skills and experience required to do the job. We will have goals which we ourselves will set and which will allow us to measure the progress of our employment equity programs.

How will the census information be used?

The information that you provide will be used:
- to determine the representation of designated groups in occupational groups;
- to track transfers, promotions and terminations of designated groups; and
- to develop employment equity plans for Carleton University.

Who will have access to my information?

ONLY the research staff in the Office of Institutional Research and Planning (OIRP) and Equity and Inclusive Communities (EIC) will see the completed census form that you return. Your answers will not be included in your personnel file.

Census information will be released in reports in statistical summary only and it will not be possible to identify individuals from this information.

Has my union/staff association been notified about the Employment Equity Census? What is its position?

A Census Task Force was established to give employee and union representatives a say in the design and implementation of the census. The Task Force met regularly and made a significant contribution to the design of the census form and to the procedures to be used for its distribution and collection. Both the census form and the general procedures were endorsed by the Task Force.

Do I have to fill out this census form?

Although participating is voluntary, we are asking you to help Carleton get accurate information on the current mix of our workforce in order that we may develop employment equity programs and continue to do business with the federal government. We can only do this if everyone co-operates and completes the census.

Isn't it against the law (Ontario Human Rights Code) to ask these questions?

No. Asking questions such as those posed in the census form does not violate the Human Rights Code when the information gathered is used for employment equity reporting and/or program development purposes and if participation is voluntary. Both the Canadian and Ontario Human Rights Commissions have endorsed the principle of an employment equity census of this kind.

Can I forward my invitation to a colleague to encourage them to fill out the census?

No. Your email contains a personalized link that is meant for you, and only you, to complete the census form. This allows us to match your equity self-identification responses with your employee number and name. We are required to monitor changes of our workforce over time. In order to maintain the accuracy of the census data, we need to be able to change records when employees are promoted or reclassified, or delete records when they leave the University. By using a unique link, we can match equity responses to individual employee numbers and update our records without the cost of conducting another census.

But I thought the census was confidential.

The census is confidential but it is not anonymous. The Code of Confidentiality states that only the research staff of the Office of Institutional Research and Planning and Equity and Inclusive Communities (EIC) will have access to individual census forms. This information will not be included in your personnel records.

Can this information be used against me?

Information you provide will have no negative impact on your current or any future job you may have at Carleton University. Individual information cannot be released for any reason.

I am a member of a visible minority group but I was born in Canada. How do I answer the census?

Regardless of your place of birth or your citizenship, you would answer yes to Question 3 if, because of your race or colour, you consider yourself to be in a visible minority in Canada.

What is a person with a disability?

Persons with disabilities are those who have a long-term or recurring physical, mental, sensory, psychiatric, or learning impairment.

For a more complete explanation, please refer to the notes linked on Question 4 on the census questionnaire.

I wear eyeglasses all the time. Is this considered a disability?

Glasses normally do not limit your ability to do most jobs unless you have a severe visual impairment. For example, you would be considered visually impaired if you could not read ordinary newsprint even with glasses or contacts. Please refer to the notes following Question 4 of the census form for further examples of visual impairment.

If, after I have filled in the census form, I develop a disability, for example, is it possible to make changes to my responses to the census at a later date?

You may change any information you have provided on the census form by contacting Equity and Inclusive Communities by telephone at extension 5622 or by email at equity@carleton.ca

If I want more information about this survey, who should I contact?

If you have questions about the census or employment equity, please contact the Office of Institutional Research and Planning at oirp.administrator@carleton.ca or at extension 3617.