The Joint Employment Equity Committee (JEEC) provides a national forum that includes the Treasury Board Secretariat (TBS), the Public Service Commission (PSC), Bargaining Agents and departmental representatives. Others with Employment Equity and diversity responsibilities or expertise, including a youth representative, may be invited to collaborate on the development, implementation and revision of public service wide policies and practices that may impact designated groups under the Employment Equity Act.
The JEEC acts as the NJC's vehicle for Employment Equity and diversity analysis, and provides the NJC with Employment Equity and diversity related input, as well as, advice and recommendations related to emerging policies and practices in the federal public service:
- Undertaking timely and relevant analysis/review from an Employment Equity and diversity lens. Analysis from an Employment Equity and diversity lens is understood as:
- Considering the Employment Equity impacts and implications of policy and practice modifications on the designated groups;
- Ensuring that intersections among designated groups—including gender identity and sexual orientation related issues are considered when impacts and implications are assessed.
- Periodically undertaking system wide reviews and analysis on Employment Equity and diversity related issues.
To achieve its mandate, the JEEC relies on:
- Transparent and timely sharing of Employment Equity and diversity related information among all Committee members (including Employment Equity data summaries gathered through various employer controlled systems);
- A consistent approach to referring issues to JEEC for consultation, collaboration, input and analysis; and,
- Engagement with the NJC Executive with regard to emerging priorities.
Committee Advisor: Laura.Mackenzie@njc-cnm.gc.ca
Quarterly Report to the National Joint Council (March 2022)
Regular activities:
- The Committee has met three (3) times since the last Council meeting.
- The Committee wishes to note the departure of Julie Richer Gobuyan, CSPS, and to thank her for her contributions to the Committee.
- The Committee invited the employment equity networks to a meeting to discuss their priorities, barriers, and support needed. Of the 17 networks invited, five (5) attended and discussed their common concerns and support needs. The networks noted their concern for the lack of disaggregated data for their respective EE groups, barriers with respect to official languages, staffing issues, and wellness. While some networks are more established, many noted that resource capacity and the risk of burnout are areas of concern.
- The Committee found the discussion useful in helping to prioritize their work in the upcoming year and plans to hold another meeting with other networks in the future.
- The Committee received a presentation from the Public Service Commission (PSC), who provided an overview of their Annual Report. The internal mobility, non-advertised appointments, and application rates of EE groups were discussed.
- The Committee received a presentation from the Office of the Chief Human Resources Officer (OCHRO), which provided an update on the in-depth analyses that will be available through the Public Service Employee Survey (PSES) Dashboards. It was noted that this is the first time that all the disaggregated data for the EE groups will be made available. This data set will help the Committee with their work as the Dashboards are released and updated.
- The Committee received a presentation from the PSC which sought input from an EE perspective on bias and barriers in assessment and mitigation strategies.
- The Committee also received a presentation from OCHRO which sought input on the potential areas of bias or barriers in qualification standards.
- The communiqué developed by the Committee to increase awareness of JEEC’s mandate and role was posted on the NJC website and shared with six (6) key departments and agencies including the TBS-OCHRO, Privy Council Office (PCO), PSC, Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), Canada School of Public Service (CSPS), and Canadian Human Rights Commission (CHRC).
- The Committee is in the process of finalizing its 2022-2023 Work Plan and will present its Year-end report, along with its Work Plan, to the Executive Committee at the Executive Committee’s Annual Planning session.
Outstanding items:
- Nil
Next meeting: June 8, 2022