Federal Public Service Workplace Psychological Health and Safety

1. Federal Public Service Workplace Psychological Health and Safety Union of National Defense Employees February 23rd 2019 Denis St-Jean Public Service Alliance of Canada Co-chair, Centre of Expertise on Mental Health in the Workplace

2. Membership Mandate • Over the years, we were asked to focus on various issues: • Strengthening Joint OHS Committees • Prevention Programs • Violence in the workplace (harassment – bullying) • Ergonomics • Psychosocial Hazards (Excessive Stress, Overwork, Shiftwork, Burnout, etc.) • Mental Health

3. Psychological H&S in the workplace February 2003 - Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology (Senator Michael Kirby) undertakes the first-ever national study of mental health, mental illness and addiction November 2005 - Standing Senate Committee proposal to create the Mental Health Commission of Canada

4. Psychological H&S in the workplace May 2010 - Tracking the Perfect Legal Storm- Converging systems create mounting pressure to create the psychologically safe workplace (An update to Stress, Mental Injury and the Law in Canada by Dr. Martin Shain) There is an emerging legal duty in Canada to provide and maintain a psychologically safe workplace

5. Psychological H&S in the workplace September 30, 2010: A group of executives, labour leaders, OHS professionals, government agencies and experts in law and policy came together to look at the implications of Dr. Shain’s paper entitled "Tracking the Perfect Legal Storm“ The group was tasked with considering what employers need to know to provide a psychologically safe workplace in today’s economic environment

6. Psychological H&S in the workplace January 2011 - MHCC was awarded funding for the development of the proposed National Standard from: Labour Programs (Enforcement of Canada Labour Code) Health Canada Public Health Agency of Canada Bell Canada, and Great-West Life Centre for Mental Health in the Workplace.

7. Psychological H&S in the workplace January 2011 - The Bureau de normalisation du Québec (BNQ) and CSA Standards initiated a project to establish a Technical Committee on Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace Standard was released January 16, 2013

8. Creating and Sustaining a Psychologically Safe Workplace = Goal #1 of the Standard • A psychologically safe workplace is: • One that allows no significant harm or injury • to employee mental health in negligent, reckless • or intentional ways • One in which every reasonable effort is made • to protect the mental health of employees [due diligence]

9. Psychologically Safe Workplaces and Psychologically Healthy Workplaces ……putting the horse before the cart…… • A “psychologically safe” workplace is one where • every reasonable effort is made to protectthe mental health of workers. • A “psychologically healthy” workplace is one where • every reasonable effort is made to promote the mental health of workers. • [= goal #2 of the Standard] • Safety first!

10. 7Influences on the Duty to Provide a Psychologically Safe Workplace: “Toward the Perfect Legal Storm” Labour Relations Law Employment Standards Legislation Human Rights Legislation Duty to Provide a Psychologically Safe Workplace Employment contract Law of Torts (negligence) Occupational Health and Safety Legislation Workers Compensation Law

11. Psychosocial factors in the standard 2. Organizational culture 1. Psychological support 3. Clear leadership & expectations 4. Civility & respect 5. Psychological competencies and requirements 6. Growth & development 8. Involvement and influence 7. Recognition and reward 10. Engagement 11. Balance 9. Workload management 13. Protection of physical safety 12. Psychological protection 14. Chronic stressors identified by workers

12. UNION INVOLVEMENT AND IMPACTS ON THE STANDARD • Worked on best practices and not on a multi-layered compliance plan (regular vs elite) • Incorporated full participation of workers and their representatives from the start of the process • Involvement of health and safety committees in implementing the requirements (where they exist by law) • We focused on organisational factors rather than personal worker behaviours (life style changes)

13. UNION INVOLVEMENT AND IMPACTS ON THE STANDARD • Protect the right of confidentiality of workers (data collection and data analysis) • Included the hierarchy of control measures in assessing risks • Included critical events preparedness (organisational and individual) • Included diversity statement (consider the unique needs of diverse populations and groups within the workplace)

14. Mental Health and the Workplace Mental health is a growing issue in Canadian workplaces, affecting 1 in every 4 Canadians. Mental health has an impact on • individuals (e.g., distress, lack of engagement), • employers (e.g., losses in productivity) and • the economy (e.g., increased expenditures). Recent survey results highlight important challenges across the federal public service. • 2014 & 2017 APEX Reports and Surveys • 2014 & 2017 Public Service Employee Survey Results

15. Mental Health in the Workplace 33-50% 20% 71% Canadian Workplace Encounter workplace stigma in Canadian labour market Canadians will experience mental illness Short and long-term disability claims in Canada are related to mental health diagnoses Executives report symptoms of burnout (e.g. emotional exhaustion, cynicism) Respondents would recommend their department or agency as a good place to work Executives report a higher stress level than 75% of Canadian adults Respondents faced harassment during the past 2 years, of which 63% reported harassment from an individual in authority 75% 19% 63% 25% Public Service

16. Situational Context: Setting the Stage …to address mental health in the workplace… The Government of Canada and the Public Service Alliance of Canada established a Joint Task Force to address mental health in the workplace. The Clerk of the Privy Council placed mental health at the top of the management agenda, and convened an advisory group with internal and external stakeholders to discuss mental health. Building from their work, in June 2016, the Federal Public Service Workplace Mental Health Strategy was released. … to build a healthy, respectful, and supportive work environment that strengthens the public service

17. SituationalContext: Joint Task Force • First report • September 2015 • Third report • January 2018 Recommendations on leadership, engagement, education, training and workplace practices, communication and promotion, and measurement and accountability Step-by-step roadmap that will help organizations identify and assessworkplace hazards that can affect the psychological health and safety of employees • Second report • APRIL 2016 enterprise-wideand organization-specifickey findings and actions

18. Federal Public Service Workplace Mental Health Strategy Changing the culture To be respectful to the mental health of all colleagues and to create an environment free from stigma …focuses on three strategic goals Measuring and Reportingto frequently take the pulse of our workplace and workforce, and make necessary adjustments Building Capacitywith tools, training and resources for employees at all levels …guiding organizations as they develop and implement their action plans on mental health 4

19. Strategy: Changing the Culture …to be respectful to the mental health of all colleagues… Authentic leadership and engagement towards mental health and wellness Shift from out-put focused to people-focused environment Raise awareness to educate employees Sustained efforts to reduce stigma Prevent psychological harm by identifying and assess workplace hazards Engage networks and communities of practice and promote employee participation Create healthy workplaces with trust, inclusivity, innovation, openness Communication at all levels …and to create an environment that is free from stigma

20. Strategy: Collaborating to Build Capacity …with tools and resources for employees at all levels Repository of leading practices GCpedia Canada.ca/ workplace-wellness Guide to Implementing a Psychological Health and Safety Management System Specialized training for managers and employees Bargaining Agents Involvement Informal Conflict Management System Centre of Expertise on Mental Health in the Workplace People Management Policy Suite Employee Wellness Support Program Mental Health and Wellness Champions’ Committee

21. Strategy: Measuring and Reporting …to frequently take the pulse of our workplace and our workforce… A number of workplace factors are correlated with a psychologically healthy workplace. Respect Reduce harassment and discrimination Awareness of mental health Psychologically healthy workplace Diversity Positive relationship with one’s supervisor Support for work-life balance Support for innovation …and make necessary adjustments

22. Mental Health in the Federal Public Service: The Strategy

23. #GCMentalHealth Map: Our Universe

24. Roles & Responsibilities for Centre of Expertise Influence and connect other mental health related activities enterprise wide Engage and educate via Federal Speakers’ Bureau Offer a best practice repository Provide roadmap for alignment with the National Standard Identify factors and gaps that may affect the psychological health and safety of the workforce Convene communities of practice and networks Provide expert advice, support and guidance Have regional and national presence

25. Our Reach in Numbers 100+Deputy Ministers Mental Health Pledge 70+ Mental Health and Wellness Champions More than 20,000 public servants reached through Federal Speakers Bureau Testimonials 128,155+ web page views 2,000+ GCconnex members 2,000+ Twitter followers

26. Prioritizing Future Efforts Build capacity and influence Measurement and Reporting Strengthen the Best Practice Repository Expand Federal Speakers Bureau Reinforce collaboration with unions and management Establish strong regional presence Provide expert support and guidance Launch OPI Network

27. canada.ca/workplace-wellness To align, support and integrate with the broader work in the area of diversity, inclusion and wellness.

28. Connect with us

29. MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVE What should be happening concretely in my department?

30. Building Success – A Guide to Establishing and Maintaining a Psychological Health and Safety Management System in the Federal Public Service How do we get started? (CHAPTER 1) Establish a Joint Sub-Committee on Mental Health (JSCMH) Jointly identify 1 or more champions Jointly determine the project sponsor Jointly develop the JSCMH’s terms of reference Jointly develop an initial communication strategy 7

31. Building Success – A Guide to Establishing and Maintaining a Psychological Health and Safety Management System in the Federal Public Service Start by knowing your workplace… (CHAPTER 2) + Evaluate the workplace Assess data Jointly conduct an evaluation of the organization’s workplace psychological hazards Jointly assess data to identify problem areas, and develop recommendations for the next steps Train staff Evaluate supports Train staff to undertake the psychological workplace hazard analysis Jointly identify and evaluate programs, policies and workplace practices that may affect psychological health and safety 8

32. Building Success – A Guide to Establishing and Maintaining a Psychological Health and Safety Management System in the Federal Public Service …continue with an implementation strategy… (CHAPTER 3) Build an evaluation plan Create a training plan Develop a communication plan Develop work plans Build a change management plan Prepare for critical events Establish a resourcing plan 9

33. Building Success – A Guide to Establishing and Maintaining a Psychological Health and Safety Management System in the Federal Public Service …and regularly assess progress… (CHAPTER 4) INVESTIGATE AND REPORT INCIDENTS • This chapter focuses on: • Lessons learned by early adopters of the National Standard of Canada for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace; and • Tips for successful implementation. MONITOR PERFORMANCE CONDUCT A JOINT MANAGEMENT REVIEW PRIORITIES INTEGRATION …to continually improve activities. 10

34. Where can you find the standard? CSA’s website: www.csa.ca/z1003 BNQ’s website www.bnq.qc.ca