The Avon Maitland District School Board has released the results of a Workforce Census it conducted last fall.
Research Manager Allison Segeren says the goal was to better understand the demographic composition of their staff so they can support their workforce, but also to make sure that their workforce represents the students they're serving and the broader Huron and Perth community. Segeren says the survey was completely voluntary and confidentially, and staff had two months to complete it.
“The survey included strictly identity-based, demographic questions focused on race, gender identity, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, different languages that are spoken and different ethnic identities. So the goal was the better understand the demographic composition of our work force," Segeren shared.
Segeren says they achieved a response rate of 74 per cent, which is exceptional for most surveys, and she says the data matched fairly well with both the student body and the Huron and Perth communities, and given the number of staff members that responded, they're confident the results of the survey reflect the demographics of their staff.
She adds, now that they have a better idea of the demographic realities of who their staff is, they're in a position to better serve employee needs.
“One of the key ways that we're using this data is to really inform the recruitment and retention strategies that our Human Resources Department is using so that we can make sure we're working to continually diversify our work force. So this data helps us verify and address barriers to employment for equity-deserving groups.”
Segeren says school boards across the province have conducted the same survey, and she says when they can see from the survey that they have people who identify with certain religions or have different ethnic identities or ethnic origins, they can then put in policies or programs to make sure they're responsive to the needs of all of their staff.
