STEFANIE NETHMASTERS CANDIDATE

INTERCULTURAL AND INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATION

ROYAL ROADS UNIVERSITYBRITISH COLUMBIA

How are Employers Facilitating the Adaptation

of Immigrants?

Before we get started…

10 Surprising ways to offend people in other countries

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTE0G9amZNk

Goal of Research

Yes, Canada has a skills shortage Yes, there are benefits of having a diverse

workforce

What are employers doing from the immigrant perspective

Increase awareness of initiativesMake findings accessible to the general public Give employers ideas for their own initiatives

Research Question

What are employers doing to help integrate their immigrant workforce and how are these initiatives facilitating cross-cultural adaption

from the perspective of the immigrant employee?

Cross-Cultural Adaptation Theory

Dr. Young Yun Kim’s cross-cultural adaptation theory:Individuals who enter a new culture will experience

some form of new cultural learning and acquisition of native cultural practices

John W. Berry’s acculturation strategies:Suggests that newcomers experience cross-cultural

adaptation in different ways based on variations in attitude and behaviour.

Both theories help to understand those factors that facilitate as well as impede the adaptation process of

immigrants.

Ethnographic Research Study

What?Why?How?

The purpose of ethnography is to describe and interpret the shared and learned patterns of values, behaviors, beliefs, and language of a

culture-sharing group (Harris, 1968).

New Knowledge

“Qualitative research and qualitative data analysis in particular have the power to be transformative learning tools through their ability to generate new levels and forms of

meaning, which can in turn transform perspectives and actions” (Kraus, 2005).

Method of Data Collection

Ethnographic interviews with 15 immigrants currently living in British Columbia

Purposeful Sampling Criterion Sampling Maximum Variance

Ethnographic interviewing allows for a genuine exchange of views and enough time and openness for

the participants to explore purposefully with the researcher the meanings they place on events in their worlds (Atkinson, Coffey, Delamont, Lofland & Lofland,

2001)

Method of Data Collection

Criteria: Employed full time by an employer located in Canada English level is intermediate to advanced

Maximum Variance Men and women Different size of company and industry # of years living in Canada

Recruiting Contacts, already established network Snowball Sampling

Details about the Data

Where are you from?

PhilippinesTaiwan, Bombay, Romania, Iran, Indonesia, Trinidad and TobagoChina

Details about the Data

How long have you been living in

Canada?

Less than 1 year1 - 3 years4- 6 yearsMore than 6 years

How long have you worked for your

current employer?

Less than 1 year1 - 3 years4 - 6 yearsMore than 6 years

Details about the Data

How big is your current company?

Less than 10 people10 - 50 people50 - 100 peoplemore than 100 peo-ple

How many of those are immigrants?

Less than 10 people10 - 50 people50 - 100 peopleMore than 100 peo-ple

Preliminary Findings

ThemesInitiatives implemented by employers

Diversity Training Social Events Mentorship Programs/Buddy Systems Help with obtaining professional designation

Leadership Trickle down effect

Adaption and adaptation responsibility Taking the best of both worlds Immigrant is responsible

Limitations/Future Research

Criteria (e.g. # of years working for a company)

Case Study (e.g. bank)Looking at a specific industry (e.g. IT,

Finance)

Why is this important for Career Practitioners?

Do you work with immigrant clients?

Encourage clients to seek out employers who are open to diversity

Research Who qualifies under Canada’s Best Diversity Employers? Are companies looking to expand overseas? Do they need people with language skills? Who are their clients? Are the majority of the clients they serve

immigrants?Do you educate employers on the importance of

successfully integrating their immigrant employees?

There are employers who value and embrace diversity!

Why is this important for employers?

Are there any employers in the audience?

Are you successfully integrating your immigrant workforce?

There are initiatives that don’t cost a lot of money or use a lot of resources

Size shouldn’t be an issue

Questions?

Where is Matt?

https://www.youtube.com/embed/Pwe-pA6TaZk?rel=0