Review the frequently asked questions below to learn more about the Employee Experiences Survey.
About the Survey
The Employee Experiences Survey is the first step in the university working towards strengthening the Workplace Culture strategic goal set out in the new Queen’s Strategy. Efforts to operationalize this goal are being co-led by Stephanie Simpson, Associate Vice-Principal (Human Rights, Equity, and Inclusion) and Steven Millan, Associate Vice-Principal (Human Resources).
The results of the survey will provide a benchmark to measure progress in key areas including organizational culture, employee wellbeing, and a shared sense of belonging. Developed by an advisory board with diverse representation from across the Queen's community, the survey encourages employees to share insights on several topics including job clarity, work/life balance, team communication, resources and supports, career advancement, diversity and inclusivity, and more.
Queen’s has engaged an experienced consultant, Metrics@Work, to administer the Employee Experiences Survey. Metrics@Work is a leading provider of organizational measurement and consulting with extensive experience developing surveys for academic institutions including Ryerson University and McMaster University. They have operated since 1999 when they began as a business-based research laboratory at Brock University. They have since become an independent, incorporated business.
The survey is open to all staff and faculty at Queen's University. This includes:
- Full-time and part-time employees (union and non-unionized)
- Faculty and Adjunct Faculty
- Casual and student employees
- Bader International Study Centre (BISC) employees
Retirees and employees on long-term leave are not included in the survey.
Yes, the survey is completely voluntary. You may skip individual questions or withdraw from the survey at any time. All responses recorded up to the time of withdrawal will be used in the final results.
While the survey is voluntary, employees are strongly encouraged to participate to help the university gain an accurate and complete picture of our workplace and your experiences.
The survey is open for a four-week period starting on April 25 and closing on May 20. In late April, employees will receive a survey email invitation from Metrics@Work, our external partner. The email will include a unique survey link. Please do not forward this email as it contains a personalized link just for the recipient.
If you do not receive an email containing your personalized survey link, please contact info@metricsatwork.
Please complete the survey during your regularly scheduled work hours. Managers and supervisors will ensure employees are able to complete the survey during work hours.
Privacy and Confidentiality
All data is stored on a secure server at Metrics@Work during the collection and analysis phase of the survey. High-level, generalized data will be used for ongoing sector-based benchmarking.
Data collected from the survey is hosted, transmitted, and stored by Metrics@Work on secure servers located in Canada. Only Metrics@Work will store and have access to individual responses. Data provided to Queen's will not be linked to any individuals.
Metrics@Work directly receives the survey responses for reporting purposes. To protect confidentiality, only Metrics@Work will be able to access individual responses. They will not provide any identifying information to Queen's. When data is provided to the university, personally identifying information will be removed.
Sharing Results
University leaders who oversee departments will have access to a high-level summary of the survey results. No information that could identify individuals will be shared.
Survey results will be summarized into department-level reports that include engagement-related responses. Demographic data and data related to support for equity-deserving groups will only be reported at a high-level. To protect confidentiality, no identifying data is provided to Queen’s from Metrics@Work.
Please note that Institutional Research and Planning and the Human Rights and Equity Office will have access to data that allows further analysis of the unique experiences of equity-deserving employees at Queen's. This is being provided to assist with access and improvement of services for these employees.
Metrics@Work will provide open-ended responses to Queen's in a separate report. To protect your identity and the identity of others, please do not include identifying information in your responses.
Please note that the survey is designed to address systemic issues, not individual workplace concerns. When reviewing responses to open-ended questions, identifying information will be removed and reported only to address larger themes or broader areas of concern. Employees with specific concerns are encouraged to seek advice and assistance through an appropriate channel such as Human Resources, Human Rights Advisory Services, Environmental Health and Safety, and the University Ombudsperson.
The Employee Experiences Survey measures employee perspectives on various aspects of our organizational culture so that future employee initiatives are evidence-based and can more effectively address employees’ needs. This information is integral to creating a work environment that is both supportive and welcoming. Your feedback will help identify key areas for focus in our efforts to improve employee experiences at Queen’s.