Survey of PSAC members on Phoenix

Report on Findings
PUBLIC SERVICE ALLIANCE OF CANADA
MARCH 9, 2018

PSAC – MEMBERS POLL ON PHOENIX - MARCH 2018 |

OVERVIEW AND METHODOLOGY
The Public Service Alliance of Canada commissioned Environics Research to
conduct a comprehensive online survey of 2,053 PSAC members. The objective
of the research was to determine how the Phoenix payroll problems have
affected members and to understand their opinions and attitudes towards the
issue.
• The survey was conducted between February 13 and February 27, 2018.
• In this report, results may not add to 100% due to rounding or multiple
responses.
Region Sample size
Atlantic 399
Quebec 374
National Capital Region 334
Ontario (excluding NCR) 412
Prairies 341
British Columbia 286
North 7
Total 2053

PSAC – MEMBERS POLL ON PHOENIX - MARCH 2018 |

Survey Findings

PSAC – MEMBERS POLL ON PHOENIX - MARCH 2018 |

PERSONALLY IMPACTED BY PHOENIX
Over eight in ten members have been personally affected by
Phoenix problem, with two in ten experiencing great hardship.

Personally affected: 82%

18% 47% 17% 18%

Phoenix affected me in a major way that caused me great hardship

Phoenix affected me to some extent and caused me some inconvenience
Phoenix affected me in a relatively minor way
I was not personally affected by Phoenix at all

Q6. To what extent have you been personally affected by the Phoenix problem?

PSAC – MEMBERS POLL ON PHOENIX - MARCH 2018 |

KNOWING PEOPLE AFFECTED BY PHOENIX
Virtually all members know someone who was personally affected by
Phoenix.

No
4%

Yes
96%

Q7. Do you know people (i.e. friends, family or work colleagues) who were personally affected by Phoenix?

PSAC – MEMBERS POLL ON PHOENIX - MARCH 2018 |

 SPECIFIC PHOENIX-RELATED PROBLEMS
Over half who experienced problems did not receive entitlements they
were owed, four in ten were underpaid and two in ten were not paid at
all. Three in ten received overpayments.

I have not received entitlements I am owed… 55%

I was underpaid for one or more pay periods 40%
I received an overpayment 31%
I was not paid at all for one or more pay periods 22%
Deductions related/no deductions made (doubled… 7%
I experienced problems related to disability leave 5%
I experienced problems related to maternity… 4%
Retro pay issues 4%
Tax related issues (e.g. being taxed incorrect… 3%
Leave/vacation days related issues/incorrect… 3%
Delayed access to/incorrect benefits plan/MSP issues 3%
Issues related to pay increment as per… 3%
Pension/pre-retirement related problems 2%
Stress of dealing with Phoenix related problems on… 2%
Other* 11%

Q8. Which specific pay problems have you personally experienced

as a result of Phoenix? Base: affected personally (n=1685)
* Responses with less than 2% of the total are grouped in the ‘other’ category.

PSAC – MEMBERS POLL ON PHOENIX - MARCH 2018 |

 PHOENIX AFFECTING WORK CHOICES
Half of members affected by Phoenix report that their concerns have
affected their work choices. One quarter have delayed transferring
positions or pursuing new opportunities and another quarter avoiding
asking for leave. One in five have not accepted an acting assignment.

I have delayed transferring positions or

pursuing new opportunities within the 25%
federal public service...

I have avoided asking for leave 24%

I have not accepted an acting

20%
assignment

I have delayed my retirement 6%

None of the above 50%

Q9. Have concerns about Phoenix affected your choices at work in any of the following ways?
Base: affected personally (n=1685)

PSAC – MEMBERS POLL ON PHOENIX - MARCH 2018 |

PHOENIX RELATED HARDSHIPS
Seven in ten have encountered some Phoenix-related hardships. Most
commonly being unable to correctly file taxes, incurring out-of-pocket
expenses, having to cancel planned activities/vacations or inability to
make payments or rent..

Inability to correctly file my taxes 32%

Incurring out-of-pocket expenses such as
29%
interest payments, late fees, banking fees, and…
Having to cancel planned activities and/or
vacation
28%
Inability to make payments for goods and
services (car payments, groceries...)
20%

Inability to make rent or mortgage payments 10%

Inability to pay for children’s school or
8%
extracurricular activities
Anxiety/mental issues/sleeplessness/depression
6%
because of the problems caused to our pay
Frustration/wasted time following up on pay
3%
problems/calling pay centre and finance…
Lack of consistent income leads to borrowing
money from others/cashing in RRSP/eating up…
2%
It delays the starting of medical/dental
coverage/not able to use my benefits/paying…
2%

Other* 10%

None 30%

Q10. Which of the following hardships are have you experienced as a result of your Phoenix problems?
Base: affected personally (n=1685)
* Responses with less than 2% of the total are grouped in the ‘other’ category.

PSAC – MEMBERS POLL ON PHOENIX - MARCH 2018 |

 PHOENIX-RELATED STRESS OR ANXIETY
Over nine in ten PSAC members affected by Phoenix have
experienced stress or anxiety.

92%

31% 32% 29% 8%

A lot of stress and anxiety Some stress and anxiety A little bit of stress and anxiety No stress or anxiety at all

Q11. To what extent have you experienced stress and/or anxiety as a result of being paid incorrectly due to Phoenix? Have
your Phoenix related problems caused you:
Base: affected personally (n=1685)

PSAC – MEMBERS POLL ON PHOENIX - MARCH 2018 |

 NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF PHOENIX
Three quarters experienced at least some negative impact to their
mental health as a result of Phoenix problems. More than six in ten
have had negative impacts to their personal lives or ability to work.
Affected
negatively
(%)

Your mental health 23% 53% 24% 76

Ability to manage your personal life 17% 50% 33% 67

Ability to work 12% 50% 38% 62

Major negative effect Some negative effect No negative effect

Q12. To what extent have your Phoenix problems negatively impacted any of the following:
Base: affected personally (n=1685)

PSAC – MEMBERS POLL ON PHOENIX - MARCH 2018 |

Respondent
characteristics

PSAC – MEMBERS POLL ON PHOENIX - MARCH 2018 |

RESPONDENT CHARACTERISTICS

Age Gender

<30 8%

30-39 27% Male

37%
40-49 29% Female
62%
50-59 27%

60+ 8%

Survey
Education
language
Secondary / high school
graduation certificate or… 14% French
Diploma or certificate from a 21%
community college, CEGEP,… 33%
University certificate or
diploma below the bachelor’s… 9%
Bachelor’s Degree (ex. BA,
BSc, etc…) 36%
English
Master’s degree or Doctorate, 79%
(Including MA, MSc, PhD,… 8%

PSAC – MEMBERS POLL ON PHOENIX - MARCH 2018 |

RESPONDENT CHARACTERISTICS

Department
Employment and Social Development Canada 17%
Canadian Revenue Agency 15%
National Defence 10%
Canadian Border Services Agency 9%
Canadian Food Inspection Agency 7%
Correctional Services Canada 6%
Public Services and Procurement Canada 5%
Royal Canadian Mounted Police 5%
Fisheries and Oceans Canada 3%
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada 3%
Veterans Affairs Canada 3%
Parks Canada 2%
Health Canada 2%
Transport Canada 2%
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada 2%
Other* 7%

* Responses with less than 2% of the

total are grouped in the ‘other’ category.

PSAC – MEMBERS POLL ON PHOENIX - MARCH 2018 |