More than 35 per cent of Yukon government employees are not satisfied or have no opinion about their current work situation.

That is a key finding of an Ipsos-Reid survey surrendered to opposition parties, and eventually the public, on Wednesday.

The survey was conducted for the Public Service Commission. It found more than 20 per cent of the respondents were dissatisfied with their departments, almost 20 per cent did not care whether they remained working for the YTG, and another 17 per cent would change jobs if similar work presented itself.

Confidence in senior leadership also scored low, and lack of merit-based hiring and poor communication were among employees' complaints.

During question period Wednesday, the government did not table the survey but eventually relinquished copies to both opposition parties, despite the fact it had been circulating for some time among department heads.

Only after NDP Leader Toddy Hardy suggested the survey indicated morale is low among public service employees did Patrick Rouble, the minister responsible for the Public Service Commission, turn over the survey.

"He completely avoided the question. This is unbelievable. Where's the transparency? Where's the accountability?" thundered Hardy after Rouble attempted to sidestep tabling the survey.

"(It's) important for the government to know about the feelings of employees but it's also important for the Public Service Commission to know how employees, are feeling, what they're thinking, what their concerns are," Rouble said.

"I asked a simple question," Hardy responded. "Let us bring on to the floor the survey so we can see what employees are saying across the board."

What the employees are saying (1,881 of 4,405 YTG workers responded to the survey) does not paint a rosy picture of employment with the government.

Nevertheless, Rouble tried to find a silver lining.

"One of the highlights in the report are that the majority of Yukon employees would continue to work with the Yukon government if they were offered another opportunity," he said.

Of the 43 per cent of YTG employees surveyed, 62 per cent said they are satisfied with their job.

But the written comments by employees, a selection of which were provided in the report, could explain why so many are ambivalent about their employement with the government.

Here's a selection of both positive and negative remarks:

YTG employee comments regarding their job or work unit:

Positive: "My supervisor allows me the opportunity to learn and apply new things that I'm intersted in that is not part of my job description."

Negative: "I receive little or no support from my supervisor and most, if not all communication, is strained. My supervisor fails to respond to any requests for information in most cases."

"I have been around for eight years and have never had an employee performance evaluation!

I'm at the point now where I don't have any enthusiasm left for the job, have not learned anything new for years, and am here just to collect a good paycheque."

Comments about respective departments or the organization:

Positive: "The recent change in senior leadership has made all the difference for staff morale, the department's standing within the government, and leadership on tough issues."

"I could retire at present but really enjoy my job so I have decided to continue working for the organization for a few more years."

Negative:"Hiring practices are not consistent and not always based on merit. A ‘level playing field' in terms of hiring, promotion, and recognition is not an unreasonable expectation."

"I feel that my department suffers from a lack of communication. I feel that individual members of the department/organization all continually reinvent the wheel. In business, there would be a sharing of such information."

General comments:

Positive: "I work in a good unit and have a great boss. However, the level of flexibility, communication, etc., from a director or manager level is very individual-specific and not in line with how the government sells itself as an employer. Not all employees are receiving the great management I have."

"Overall, I enjoy my job, work, co-workers and location. The work I do is meaningful to the people of the Yukon and I am proud of what I do for a living."

Negative: "I enjoy my workplace, we provide a high quality of service but do not enjoy how political things are in the broader department and how politicians can affect/comment on the running of the service."

"Training, or lack thereof, is a huge concern for me. There appears to be a general sense of senior management that this is not a priority.

"I'm not speaking of sending numerous persons out to various conferences in big cities. I mean basic core training offered in Whitehorse to give new employees (of which I am) the core skills to do their job effectively."

"I have worked in a small school, small town Yukon Territory where we have absolutely no or very little support from anyone in the Education department.

I will never, ever work for the Yukon government again and I will pass along my thoughts and concerns to anyone who is considering it."

"An e-mail telling us what a good job we are doing is not enough. We work hard here, and deserve more.

"I can't tell you what that may entail ... but that's for the mucky-mucks to figure out."

After the legislature reconvened this afternoon, Hardy urged the government to table the full report, which would offer breakdowns by department.