Survey shows only one-third got effective job orientation

Only half of the Government of Nunavut's employees received orientation before starting their jobs, says a recent survey, and of those, only a fraction afterwards understood their job duties, the land claims agreement, and how the territorial government works.

Not surprisingly, only 36 per cent of respondents said their job orientation was effective.

The report, prepared by the Nunavut Bureau of Statistics, compiles the results of a survey sent to GN workers in 12 communities in 2006. Of the 3,267 employees contacted, slightly less than half responded.

The first part of the survey deals with job and workplace understanding. It found that two-thirds of employees knew their job description upon starting work.

Of the half who received an orientation, 27 per cent had the Nunavut land claims agreement explained to them and 40 per cent were told how the Government of Nunavut works. Seventy per cent had their jobs explained to them.

But many workers appear happy at work. The next part of the survey, which deals with job satisfaction, found eight in nine respondents look forward to work.

Asked what made them happy at work, employees above all answered it's the work they do, followed by the people with whom they work, and their pay.

Asked what they dislike about work, employees cited their bosses, followed by their co-workers and pay.

Eighty-eight per cent of respondents said they enjoyed a good or excellent relationship with co-workers. Seventy-nine per cent said as much of their bosses.

Almost half of respondents said they felt their knowledge and experience was valued. Thirty five per cent said they felt somewhat valued. Ten per cent said they did not feel valued at all.

Sixty-two per cent of respondents said they expect to be working in the same department for the next five years. Twenty-eight per cent said they may be working for a different GN department.

Twenty-nine per cent of respondents had worked for their department for at least five years. A quarter had worked for their department between three and five years, and 19 per cent had worked for their department for one and two years.

More than one-third of employees held the same occupation for at least five years. About 20 per cent had the same occupation for three to five years, and 16 per cent had the same occupation for the last year or two.

Asked if Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit was being applied in the workplace, 41 per cent of respondents said yes, 35 per cent said sometimes, and 15 per cent said no.

A majority of respondents said they need more training to be effective at work. Many also believe training is available, but many also believe they are too busy to take time off.

Asked to suggest how to make their workplace better, more than 100 respondents said the government should lower staff housing rents.

Inuit made up 47 per cent of respondents. The same proportion had a university or college degree.

Most respondents were either teachers or nurses. Most lived in Iqaluit.