Diversity, Inclusion & Anti-Oppression Survey Report

Union Updates

HSAA is proud to represent a diverse group of members from various backgrounds and health-care disciplines. We believe it is crucial to ensure that diversity, equity, and inclusivity (DE&I) are promoted within our Union so the broad diversity of our membership is recognized. 

To begin, we wanted to know more about the diversity of our membership so we can promote inclusivity and make space for all members – both in our representation and in our activities. One way to support this goal is by surveying our members to better understand the makeup of our HSAA membership. 

Over 2,900 members across various health-care disciplines and backgrounds responded anonymously to our Diversity, Inclusion & Anti-Oppression Survey. We’ve included some key findings below, and you can access our summary document here. You can also view the full results of the survey here. 

Based on the findings, the Social Justice Committee identified several areas for improvement including: 

  • Removing the fear of and normalizing reporting discrimination
  • Further education opportunities for members on DE&I topics
  • Promoting more diverse leadership 

The Committee also recommends conducting a DE&I survey on a regular basis. By doing so, the HSAA can gain valuable information about the needs and concerns of our members, which can help us identify areas where we need to improve our DE&I efforts. 

Everyone has a right to be treated equally without discrimination. When discrimination happens in the workplace, our Union needs to be a safe place for members to go to for help. 

We thank all members who participated in the survey and helped us learn about the diversity of our members. The Social Justice Committee continues to review the data collected and is committed to using the findings to create inclusive workplaces for our diverse membership

Key Findings and Takeaways

If you don’t have time to read the linked summary or full survey results linked above, we’ve got a few highlights of some key findings and takeaways from the survey below. 

  • We were pleased to find an impressive participation rate of 11.43% among active members. This might be the highest survey response rate for HSAA Board Committees in HSAA history (outside of bargaining). Receiving a high response rate from our members reinforces our belief in the importance of this topic.
  • The results indicated that more than 65% of the respondents feel that HSAA is inclusive and that diverse members feel represented within the Union.
  • However, the survey also revealed that only 27.12% of respondents who’ve witnessed discriminatory behavior at work reported it.
  • 7.23% of members that responded identified as a member of the LGBTQQIA+ community. However, when respondents were asked about their comfort level when disclosing their sexual orientation in the workplace, nearly half (45.07%) stated they do not feel comfortable doing so.
  • Members’ responses included over 18 different groups when asked which racial or ethnic ancestral identity describes them. This illustrates how diverse our membership truly is.
  • 9.93% of respondents identified as living with a disability.
  • Over 20% of events where members experience racial, sexual, or gender discrimination, the perpetrator was a fellow HSAA member. 

“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” – Maya Angelou