Skilled migrant employees' perceptions of support from line managers
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
ISSN: 2040-7149
Article publication date: 14 May 2020
Issue publication date: 12 November 2020
Abstract
Purpose
This paper explores the experiences of non-English-speaking background (NESB) skilled employees working in Australian workplaces, their perceptions of managers' actions and how a lack of employee involvement and participation (EIP) practices and performance appraisal (PA) is perceived regarding career progression.
Design/methodology/approach
This exploratory research project is based on 26 semi-structured interviews with skilled migrant NESB employees based in Australia. Social exchange theory (SET) and labour market segmentation theory (LMST) are applied to help explain macro- and micro-level influences on NESB employees and their relationships with their line managers and the workforce.
Findings
Participants perceived line managers to be highly communicative and approachable; however, they indicated how a lack of EIP in decision-making and in their PA affected career progression opportunities for NESB employees. While they were satisfied overall with their jobs, the research indicated a need for improved practices and support from the broader organisation in these two identified areas.
Originality/value
There is relatively little research on how the challenges of an increasingly diverse workforce are managed, particularly from NESB employees' perspective. Therefore, this research fills a gap concerning NESB employees' experience in Australian organisations.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to express special thanks to Rosa's previous supervisor Associate Professor Janis Bailey, whose leadership played a key role in enabling this project to be completed.
Citation
Faaliyat, R., Townsend, K., Peetz, D. and Ressia, S. (2020), "Skilled migrant employees' perceptions of support from line managers", Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, Vol. 39 No. 8, pp. 931-947. https://doi.org/10.1108/EDI-09-2019-0246
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited