policy analyst

regulatory affairs specialist

program officer

regulatory project manager

project officer

Health Canada

To sum up working at Health Canada, the best words to describe the work environment that Health Canada creates is "cut-throat". I can't be anymore clearer than that.

I worked in the Drug Analysis Service and it was one of the worst experiences I've ever had in my career. At my job there I tested seized police exhibits of narcotics to identify any substances which fall under the Controlled Drug and Substances Act. The job itself was interesting and you learn a lot, but the way management operates the lab is absolutely abhorrent. Your daily routine is grabbing police exhibits to be tested and certified for their content, but what management doesn't tell you when you start is that everyone there is pitted against each other. Don't ever believe for a second that anyone there is your friend cause they're not. Everyone there is out to get you there in the environment that Health Canada festers.

When you test your samples, you have a variety of instruments to use to get the testing done... but so does everyone else. When you set up your samples on an instrument at the start of the day, you'll come back at the end of the day expecting to get your data only to see that everyone else has bumped your sample queue right to the end with your samples haven't even being run yet, and everyone does this there. Management will then start coming at you asking why it's taking time to complete your samples and you saying that others are bumping your samples for analysis is just an excuse to them. Some have been so stressed with this happening there that you'll witness deep seething outbursts right in the open in the lab and when this happens, it makes it very unsettling being there with this pressure that management constantly instill's on everyone.

Because of that pressure, no one there talks to each other. It makes it a very isolating and lonely work environment so don't expect to befriend anyone while you're there. If you're like me and enjoy being collegial with your colleagues, this is definitely NOT the place for you. Even asking for help with something is heavily frowned upon and can even get you into a lot trouble there, very fast. Management creates this expectation that when you come to work you feel like you're essentially held at gunpoint for you to get your work done, otherwise they'll try their hardest get rid of you. Even though this is a unionized environment, the union doesn't help you. This makes it unbelievably demoralizing and exhausting being in that kind of atmosphere, but Health Canada justifies it because "hey, you're working for the Federal Government, right?"

Blame culture is beyond excessive at Health Canada. If something goes wrong, it is so easy for Health Canada to find someone and just blame them for something happening. There's no such thing as a "Root Cause Analysis" at Health Canada which is what finds the solution for every problem in pretty much any industry, so instead it's just easier for them to find someone and then blame for anything that goes wrong, even if it has nothing to do with you.

To survive working there, just bite your tongue. Just try your hardest to not bite it off but know that you only get the pension if you're lucky, and luck is definitely not in abundance. As everyone knows federal elections happen once every 4 years or less so after the next election you'll probably be looking for another job so don't stop looking, even while there. No one deserves the poor way Health Canada treats its employees.

I really enjoyed working at Health Canada. I worked in the mailroom and I found it great because I would always have different things to do. It was never repetitive. I learned a lot there as well by assisting with security, doing data entry for both fleet management and our facilities unit and being in charge of re-directing any calls towards building maintenance, security issues, etc. I liked working in the mailroom because it allowed me to deliver mail throughout all floors and units of our office and familiarize myself with co-worker and managers in each unit. My supervisor while working in the mailroom was the greatest supervisor I ever had because she would come by the mailroom every morning to make sure everything was going great and would always be on top of things if we had any concerns needed to be addressed. The one thing I did not enjoy about this job is that I was a term, and after over 3 years with the department I was laid off due to budget cuts. There is also a hiring freeze within the federal government for term employees which did not allow me to be rolled over into a permanent position.

Typical day: check e-mail for reports and meetings, draft letter to recipients, preparing mail outs, tracking finance's in Excel, upgrading the training manuel, answering phone inquires, scanning and digitizing files, creating new files, keep database's up to date, working on projects.

The Management was fantastic, they encouraged you to develop your skills, take workshops and support your growth in the office or whereever that may take you.  They make it a very positive environment.

The most enjoyable part of the job is definitely the people I work with.  Everyone is very supportive and is willing to help each other out.  We are a small team so we really rely on each other.  

I have learned a lot about the government and how it works.  The division I work in, I did not have any previous experience with so was very new to the information.  It was  a lot to take in but was well worth it.  The work done in this office affects a lot of Canadians and I get to be part of that team.

Performed timely and accurate entry of invoices
   Received and compiled accounts payable documentation including invoices, purchase 
   orders and packing slips
   Processed invoices in an electronic environment (Procure to Pay system – P2P) in SAP
   Ensured supporting documentation were attached to the invoice
   Audited and processed financial transactions
   Identified missing or incomplete information or errors and corrected or returned to 
   the origin
   Calculated the taxes according to the province
   Made sure that there was enough money in the PO to cover the amount of money on 
   invoice 
   Verified that the financial coding, including the GL Account, Cost Center and PO were
   correct
   Verified the accuracy of quantities received and pricing on commercial invoices
   Verified expense reports with receipts and entered them in SAP
   Verified that Section 33 was signed and dated by the pre-auditor
   Verified CCA, CCM who signed section 34 have the signing authority


Opportunities for Advancement; Health Canada offers various programs for qualified employees seeking new challenges and career advancement.

Access to Continuous Learning; Health Canada is committed to maintaining an educated and knowledgeable workforce. On-going professional and personal development is a key method of meeting this objective.

Flexible Work Arrangements; Depending on the type of work performed, managers can allow employees to work flexible hours, telework or work a compressed work week.

Job Security and Mobility; Because Health Canada is part of the Federal Public Service, employees benefit from the ability to move within the department, or within various departments of the Federal Public Service.

Insurance Benefits
Health Canada employees have dental and health care plans, disability insurance, pension plan and death benefit coverage.

I love my job but I feel creep because my appointment will end by September 20, 2013. I don't even take a 15 minite break most of the time because I'm always excited to finish my work for the day. I have learned so much about sorting out priorities in your work place. The management is awesome, a super friendly co-workers. And so far, I don't experience any hardest part of the job except conflict of schedule. Because I have a 7 year old boy and since its summer I have conflict sometimes with my schedule to babysit or look after my son.

The most enjoyable part of the job is working with data entry system. I encountered different cases with different sounds funny names. It gives you ideas how people work for their own safe and how they need to  take care of their health.

Co-workers were excellent, very helpful, taught me the job well.
Management was great as well, helpful, great exit interviews.
The hardest part was not very hard as I had done that type of work, but you always have to learn the way the company does their way.
The most enjoyable part was getting lots of exercise going to the ramp each day few times in the new state of the art building.
I always enjoyed learning and what I did learn, brought with me as experience gained which was very helpful for other jobs.

Overall rating is excellent.

It was very fruitful to see how an organization is so well run and all the things that are in a Virology lab.

It's a government job. Sometimes so many things happen at once (media request, director's ad-hoc request, stakeholder queries, etc.) that you are overwhelmed at work and want to quit, and sometimes things are so slow that you want to quit due to boredom. There is almost no in between. It is what it is.

I love Mondays, mostly because the day flies by in a flash. I would concentrate on how you ‘organize’ your day. I do this on Monday so that the rest of the week is well organized and I can effectively use my time on other work I need to catch-up on. One of my biggest task is checking in with my co-worker and see the progress on various projects. I prefer meeting three times a week, first thing on Monday to discuss our priorities for the week, then meet again Wednesday to check progress, and meet once on Friday to discuss goal setting for the next week. When I met with the team, together, we came up with strategies for increasing efficiency among the team.

What is the best part of working at the company?
Atmosphere and people are a great incentive that kept me there for 8 years. Subject matter areas are of great interest for me as well.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Did not experience an unusual stress that is worth documenting. 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Fast pace and people are willing to listen to experience and exchange ideas.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
A usually expected day where issues are injected into your work schedule.

Top Job Titles	Average salary
Policy analyst 5 salaries reported	$74,800 per year
Regulatory affairs specialist 3 salaries reported	$24.67 per hour
Program officer 4 salaries reported	$59,625 per year
Regulatory project manager 3 salaries reported	$91,210 per year
Project officer 4 salaries reported	$69,355 per year

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