Our 2022 Research Insights are Live
New research shows how much farther we have to go in Canada to ensure equal opportunity.
The Canadian Workplace Culture Index and The University of British Columbia share striking insights into race, education, flexibility, justice, and COVID-19.
Vancouver, BC (May 17, 2022) – Recent research into Canadians’ opinions about Workplace Culture highlights equity gaps between Canadians based on their education, where they live, and more. The research includes insights into COVID impacts, flexibility in the workplace, indigenous recognition and education in the Canadian workplace, and workplace culture broadly. The research, conducted annually to establish the Canadian Workplace Culture Index (CWCI), was undertaken by the CWCI and researchers from The University of British Columbia and revealed striking contrasts in the workplace culture experience of different Canadians.
“We were interested in uncovering and understanding how different Canadians experience workplace culture. This research measured Canadians’ opinions about workplace culture and analyzed how ethnicity, income, province, education, age, industry, and gender relate to Canadians’ workplace culture experience. The findings are surprising in a few ways,” said Dr. Taylor Wright, the study’s lead and a researcher at the University of British Columbia. “The biggest determinant, by far, of a positive workplace culture experience was level of education. Additionally, Canadians over 55 are the most likely to move jobs for a pay increase, suggesting they are the group the most motivated by income. The opposite of the expected millennial/job hopper trend.”
Key Insights
Canadians on the coasts reported more positive workplace culture experience, higher levels of flexibility, and less negative COVID impacts than those in Quebec and Ontario.
Education is the most decisive factor in experiencing positive workplace culture.
Racial inequities persist across all measures and topics.
More than 30% of Canadian workplaces did not recognize any Indigenous peoples’ day.
Canadians over 55 are the most likely to leave their jobs for a 5% raise, while those under 35 are least likely (47%).
Canadians are less likely (73%) to recommend their employer to others than last year (81%).
Flexibility: Coastal Canadians report the highest levels of flexibility in the workplace.
Canadians in BC, Alberta, and the Maritimes were twice as likely to report flexibility in their workplaces than those in Ontario and Quebec.
Black Canadians report the lowest levels of flexibility, while Asian Canadians report the highest.
Canadians over 55 report the highest levels of flexibility for “Sickness/Medical Needs” and “Unexpected Events,” and they also report the lowest levels of flexibility for “Where I work” and “Mental Health Days.”
COVID-19: Canadians most likely to experience COVID challenges are least able to handle them.
Black Canadians were four times more likely (23%) than Asian Canadians (5%) to have reported that they lost a job due to COVID.
Canadians in Ontario and Quebec were three times more likely (20%) than other Canadians (6%) to have reported losing a job due to COVID.
Canadians that COVID LEAST negatively impacted are more than 35 years old, Asian, live in BC, Alberta, or the Maritimes, work in government or education, are university educated, and make more than $100,000 per year.
Canadians that COVID MOST negatively impacted are 18-24 years old, Black, live in Ontario or Quebec, work in natural resources or real estate, are high school educated, and make less than $50,000 per year.
Justice: Younger Canadians report receiving more information, education, and recognition of Canadian Indigenous Peoples in the workplace than older Canadians.
Canadians under 25 were most likely (76%) to report that their organization recognized Indigenous People’s Day or Truth and Reconciliation, aka Orange Shirt Day, while those over 55 were least likely (60%).
Canadians over 55 were least likely (47%) to report that their organization provides information or education about the history of Indigenous peoples in Canada.
BC (74%) reported the highest likelihood that their organization recognized either Indigenous Peoples Day; as we move eastward, each province was less likely to report recognition, with the Maritimes (61%) reporting the lowest levels.
Higher education and income levels corresponded to higher indigenous recognition and education levels.
Developed by The ReFrame Group with research support provided by The University of British Columbia, more than 2,000 full-time employed Canadians’ opinions established The 2022 Canadian Workplace Culture Index (CWCI), a unique Canadian benchmark across six unique workplace attributes. The CWCI consists of an index, an annual research report, and a certification solution that provides insights into workplace culture, helps employers nurture exceptional organizational culture, and offers strategies to retain and recruit talent.
“Improving workplace culture has a profound effect on the productivity and creativity of an organization’s workforce and, in turn, that organization’s profitability and growth rates,” said Zivanovic. “The CWCI is the only solution that compares honest, anonymous employee feedback to an index of Canadians’ attitudes to workplace culture.”
The research was conducted in February of 2022 using random device engagement and a conversational chat survey to gather feedback from more than 2,000 Canadians. The sample was representative of Canadians based on province, age, and ethnicity. For more information on the CWCI, methodology, or to get started, visit cultureindex.io.
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About The Canadian Workplace Culture Index
Founded in 2021 by the Reframe Group and partner Angus Reid Institute, the Canadian Workplace Culture Index (CWCI) is a uniquely Canadian benchmark of Canadians’ opinions about workplace culture. Using the Index, Canadian organizations with ten or more employees can assess and certify their workplace culture and receive valuable reports, qualitative feedback, custom actionable insights and recommendations on how to improve their workplace culture across six distinct workplace attributes: workplace satisfaction, company cares, diversity and inclusion, recognition and communications, employee connection and loyalty. Learn more at cultureindex.io.
Kemp Edmonds
Canadian Workplace Culture Index
Phone: 604-340-5367
Email: Kemp@cultureindex.io
Social Media
LinkedIn: /canadianworkplacecultureindex
Twitter: @CultureIndexCA
Instagram: @cultureindexca
About The University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia (UBC) is one of North America’s largest and most prestigious public research and teaching institutions, and one of only two Canadian institutions to be consistently ranked among the world’s 40 best universities. Surrounded by the beauty of the Canadian West, it is a place that inspires bold, new ways of thinking that have helped make it a national leader in areas as diverse as community service learning, sustainability and research commercialization. UBC attracts $550 million per year in research funding from government, non-profit organizations and industry through 7,000 grants. For more information, visit www.ubc.ca.
