Continuities and Discontinuities in the workplace: a study on minoritized professionals

Abstract

In recent years, a plea for diversity in the workplace has emerged. Despite legislation that promotes diversity, organizations are still dominated by certain majorities. Employees that belong to minoritized groups are often called to assimilate to majority norms and expectations. This is a situation that affects workplace boundaries for minoritized groups, who experience and create continuity and discontinuity while transitioning between their workplace and personal life. This research answers the research question: What types of continuity and discontinuity do minoritized professionals experience and create between their workplace and personal life? To address this issue, 15 professionals from minoritized groups participated in semi-structured interviews followed by a thematic analysis. Findings indicate that there are common patterns of continuity and discontinuity based on the broad categories of given continuity, intended continuity, given discontinuity and intended discontinuity.