A new report from Canada's Auditor General Karen Hogan has found that some government organizations are taking an average of more than a hundred days to address accommodation requests from employees with disabilities. The report, tabled in Parliament on Monday, examined seven federal departments and agencies between April 2023 and September 2025, revealing that while overall progress has been made in fostering accessible workplaces, all seven organizations had ineffective processes to handle the volume of accommodation requests.
Key Findings
The audit reviewed the experience of employees with disabilities at the Canada School of Public Service, Employment and Social Development Canada, the Public Service Commission of Canada, Public Services and Procurement Canada, Shared Services Canada, the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, and the Canada Revenue Agency. All seven made progress in representation and advancement of employees with disabilities, but their accommodation processes were found lacking.
The report states that an ineffective or delayed accommodation process can leave employees with disabilities unable to perform their duties, creating stress and potentially leading to declines in productivity and morale. Timely processes for delivering effective accommodations are vital to workplace accessibility.
Timeframes for Resolution
The average time organizations took to resolve requests ranged from 24 days to as many as 310 days. The five government organizations that set response goals or tracked timelines outperformed the other two by a wide margin. The two worst performers were Public Services and Procurement Canada, with an average of 169 days, and the Canada Revenue Agency, with an average of 310 days.
Accommodation requests sampled in the audit ranged from minor tweaks, such as ergonomic equipment, to major changes, such as modified schedules or different job duties. The public service is legally obligated to provide an inclusive and accessible workplace.
This report highlights the need for improved processes to ensure that employees with disabilities receive timely accommodations, which is essential for both employee well-being and organizational effectiveness.
