Workplace Discrimination: A Key Contributor to Mental Health Issues for New Immigrants

Abstract

Canada is a settlement country building on the efforts of new immigrant workers and investors. In Canada, one in five residents is foreign born. However, according to a study from the Ryerson Centre for Immigration and Settlement, many G8 countries that receive immigrants encounter challenges in integration. One significant barrier is workplace discrimination against visible minority immigrant workers. Workplace discrimination affects workers’ emotional health and ability to succeed. In this research project, Canadian immigration policies and statistics, from the 1960s to the present, were analyzed and a literature review was conducted. Social surveys reveal the health impact of decreased job satisfaction and lowered motivation and organizational citizenship. Despite public policy supporting cultural differences, many employers have not valued cultural diversity. New policies to ease the transition of visible minority immigrants to Canada are required.