Public Service Commission Policies

Diversity and Inclusion

Purpose                

The Manitoba government welcomes employees with unique personal and professional backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. The cultivation of a diverse public service enhances capacity to meet organizational needs, and an inclusive work culture supports engagement, respect at work, and innovation. As an organization supporting a diverse public, the Manitoba government delivers better services and improved outcomes by reducing barriers and biases, incorporating varied perspectives, and striving to reflect Manitoba's rich diversity within our workforce.


Policy Statement

The Manitoba government is committed to achieving an inclusive public service at all levels in the organization. Diversity of background, identity, thought, and experience, where fully leveraged and aligned with public service goals, is a significant strength in achieving the most effective public service for Manitobans. This includes ensuring public service policy, programs, and initiatives are inclusive, accessible, and equitable.


Objectives

This policy seeks to support diversity and inclusion principles and practices in all aspects of workforce management, including recruitment, orientation, professional development, safety and wellness, employee recognition, and promotion into roles of higher responsibility (Staffing, Employee Recognition). It acts as the foundation for more specific diversity and inclusion related actions, practices and guidelines for management and employees, which involve:

  • seeking out and welcoming public servants of diverse backgrounds, skills, perspectives, experience, and abilities
  • removing barriers that prevent equitable involvement and engagement in the work of the public service
  • supporting the open communication, respectfulness and collaboration required to align the work of diverse individuals and teams towards clearly-defined public service goals
  • ensuring employees and management are supported in bringing forward concerns and creating safe, inclusive, accessible workplaces free of discrimination


Principles

Diversity and inclusion is a workforce management principle under section 8 of The Public Service Act. It states that, "The diversity of the people of Manitoba ought to be represented in the core public service, and the varied talents, perspectives and ideas of employees with different backgrounds and experiences ought to be supported." This position is also reflected in the Manitoba Government Code of Conduct.
The Diversity and Inclusion policy promotes respect for others, a core value for an ethical public service. It also promotes collaboration and innovation, core values for an effective public service.


Application

This policy applies to all members of the core public service of the Manitoba government, as defined in The Public Service Act.


Responsibilities

Employees:

Managers:

  • Build and maintain, and commit to fostering psychologically safe workplaces that support the open and respectful sharing of ideas, concerns, feedback and decisions with and among employees.
  • Support employee participation in opportunities to engage with, and learn the perspectives and experiences of diverse demographic groups.
  • Apply fair approaches, including reasonable accommodation and flexibility where possible, in staff work assignments and arrangements.
  • Foster collaboration and knowledge-sharing within teams and across government, to support the achievement of common public service goals.
  • Work as required with the Public Service Commission to support assessment, reporting and discussion of diversity and inclusion metrics and objectives.

Deputy Ministers:

  • Oversee and support department initiatives to foster a diverse and inclusive workforce, including assessment and reporting of diversity and inclusion metrics.
  • Manage departmental progress in building and maintaining a diverse and inclusive workforce in accordance with this policy, pursuant to The Public Service Act.

Public Service Commissioner:

  • Develop and administer government-wide programs, processes and initiatives supporting a diverse and inclusive public service.
  • Periodically evaluate diversity and inclusion programs, processes and initiatives, to assess their effectiveness, efficiency and relevance to evolving needs.
  • Provide expertise and advice on diversity and inclusion for the development and implementation of workforce management activities.
  • Ensure there are mechanisms and reporting processes in place for departmental and government-wide accountability regarding progress on diversity and inclusion objectives.
  • Provide direction and advice to departments regarding this policy, pursuant to The Public Service Act.


Definitions

Core Public Service: as defined in The Public Service Act, consists of the Clerk of the Executive Council, the other deputy ministers and the employees in positions within the departments of government.

Discrimination: per the Manitoba Human Rights Code, this means treating a person or group
differently, to their disadvantage and without reasonable cause, on the basis of a group
characteristic, such as ancestry, sex and gender, or disability. Failure to reasonably accommodate a special need that is based on a protected characteristic, such as disability or religion, is also discriminatory.

Diversity: having individuals in a group with a range of personal and professional skills, physical attributes, lived experiences and insights. Diversity can have many dimensions, including sex, gender, race, cultural background, abilities, sexual orientation, religion, age, and other factors impacting a person's life and perspective. Diversity can be intersectional, and may be invisible (not easily seen).

Diverse workforce: made up of individuals who have an array of identities (including gender and sexual diverse people), abilities, backgrounds, cultures, skills, perspectives and experiences that are representative of Manitoba's current and evolving population.

Employment Equity: workforce practices that seek to rectify the historic marginalization of certain demographic groups by reducing barriers to employment for these groups. The Manitoba government recognizes the following groups for employment equity initiatives:

  • women
  • Indigenous peoples
  • persons with disabilities
  • visible minorities

Inclusion: the practice and state of being included and valued in the activities of a group. Inclusive workplaces recognize and value the contributions that diverse individuals can offer.

Intersectionality: the complex, cumulative way in which the effects of multiple forms of discrimination combine, overlap, or intersect especially in the experiences of historically marginalized individuals or groups.


Related Legislation and Policies


Resources and Tools

In addition to the resources noted, employees with questions about how the Diversity and Inclusion Policy relates to a specific situation, may also contact their Human Resources Consultant, their Accessibility Coordinator or Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator.
Should you have questions or concerns regarding discrimination in the workplace, please contact the Respectful Workplace Office or reporting mechanisms under the Respectful Workplace Policy: Addressing and Preventing Sexual Harassment, Harassment and Bullying.


Authority

The policy should be read in the context of the following and any other applicable legislation:
The Public Service Act section 10(c) requires the Minister to establish policies relating to a diverse and inclusive workforce.


Policy Review and Revision Schedule

A review will be conducted on the administration and operation of this policy, including any related procedural documents and forms, as per a policy review schedule established by the Public Service Commission.


Policy Inquiries

For further information or questions about this policy, please contact:

Policy, Programs and Learning Branch
Public Service Commission
PPL@gov.mb.ca
204-945-2332

 

 

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