Linguistic (In)Security at Work : Exploratory Survey on Official Languages among Federal Government Employees in Canada

The federal government's Commissioner of Official Languages of Canada mandated his research team, in collaboration with private research firm PRA Inc., to conduct an exploratory survey, which took place between March 6 to 25, 2019, on the challenge of linguistic insecurity in the federal workplace. In total, 10,828 survey questionnaires were completed by personnel working in nearly 100 different federal institutions located in the National Capital Region (NCR), in Quebec outside the NCR, in Ontario outside the NCR, and in New Brunswick. More than 5,000 Anglophones completed the survey questionnaire. The respondents were predominantly female (61 percent), most were between 35 and 54 years old (59 percent), and 30 percent were managing or supervising other individuals. The survey found that around 40 percent of both Anglophone and Francophone respondents would like more opportunities to use French at work; while 9 percent of Anglophones and 10 percent of Francophones stated that they would like to have more opportunities to use English at work. The percentages increased when language environment and ability were considered. Among Francophones with at least moderate English-language reading, writing and speaking skills and working in French-predominant environments, 35 percent wanted more opportunities to use English at work. Among Anglophones working in French-predominant environments, 47 percent wanted more opportunities to use English at work.

Ottawa, ON

Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages

January 2021

iii-63p.

en

978-0-660-36923-5