At Brandon University, we want to ensure that the makeup of our workforce reflects the makeup of our available labour force. In order to achieve this goal, we need the most accurate data possible from all employees, whether they identify as members of a designated group or not.

The four Federally Designated Groups, as defined by the Employment Equity Act are:

• Indigenous/Aboriginal People
• Racialized People/Visible Minorities
• Women
• People with Disabilities

Employment equity initiatives are ongoing, and work towards removing barriers to employment that these groups (and others) have faced, and continue to face.

When completed, the information gathered through this questionnaire will give us a better picture of our workforce and allow us to identify where there are employment equity gaps. Information collected on the questionnaire will be held in strictest confidence in the office of the Diversity and Human Rights Advisor, and only aggregate, non-identifying information will be included in the annual Employment Equity Reports which will be posted on the University’s website. This information will be used by various offices at the University to determine need for initiatives or programs to improve employment equity practices.

Providing answers to the equity questions is confidential and voluntary, but returning the completed form is mandatory. You can respond to any or all of the 4 equity questions, or you can check the first box indicating that you wish to opt out of providing equity data. Be sure to put your name or employee # at the top of the form and date it before returning it to the DHRA.

Once you have returned your questionnaire, you will be counted in the Workforce Analysis. Identifying information about specific individuals will not be released, and this information will not become part of your personnel file. You can also reach out to the DHRA to change your information at any time.

Four Federally Designated Groups

The Employment Equity Act gives a specific definition for three of the Federally Designated Groups that we are collecting data on. There is no particular definition of the group “women”, though it is clear that this is about self-identification, so the category refers to gender identity, not just biological sex.

• Indigenous/Aboriginal People are those who identify themselves as First Nations, Metis or Inuit, and include those with or without treaty status.
• Racialized People/Visible Minorities are people, other than Indigenous/Aboriginal people, who are non-Caucasian in race or non-white in colour.
• People with Disabilities are people who have a long-term or recurring physical, mental, sensory, psychiatric or learning impairment and who:
  • consider themselves to be disadvantaged in employment by reason of that impairment, or
  • believe that an employer or potential employer is likely to consider them to be disadvantaged in employment by reason of that impairment.

This includes people whose functional limitations owing to their impairment have been accommodated in their current job or workplace.