Framework for Compliance Audits Under the Employment Equity Act
Audit Process and Statutory Requirements

December 2010

This document is also available in .pdf format

Employment Equity Vision:

The purpose of the Employment Equity Act is to achieve equality in the workplace so that no person shall be denied employment opportunities or benefits for reasons unrelated to ability and, in the fulfilment of that goal, to correct the conditions of disadvantage in employment experienced by women, aboriginal peoples, persons with disabilities and members of visible minorities.

Did you know?   

The proportion of women who have completed some form of post-secondary education continues to be greater than that of men.
2006 Census: Educational Portrait of Canada, Statistics Canada.

In the coming years, more Aboriginal people will be entering the workforce than ever before. This growing population will constitute an important pool of recruits to supplement shortages in the labour market.
Perspectives on Labour and Income, Statistics Canada.

Employers who have made accommodations for employees with disabilities reported that this allowed the company to retain a qualified employee, increased the worker’s productivity and eliminated the cost of training a new employee.
Job Accommodation Network

Canada’s visible minority population has attained higher levels of education than the general population.
Immigrants’ Education and Required Job Skills, Statistics Canada.

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION

Overview of the Employment Equity Compliance Program
Historical perspective

PROCESS FOR EMPLOYMENT EQUITY AUDITS

1.     FRAMEWORK

Purpose
Roles and responsibilities under the Employment Equity Act
Statutory requirements
Confidentiality
Human Rights Maturity Model

2.     STRATEGIC PLANNING OF AUDITS

Federally regulated employers
Results and risk-based audit selection process
Targets

3.     THE AUDIT PROCESS

Notification: initiating contact with the employer
Audit questionnaire: evaluation of compliance status
Verification: validation of the information obtained
Reporting: issuing an employment equity report
Undertakings: employers to redress areas of non-compliance
Enforcement of the Act: ensuring compliance by issuing a Direction

CONTACT INFORMATION

Next Page