Transnational Caregiving: Experiences of Visible Minority Carer-Employees

Abstract

In Canada, approximately 35% of individuals in the workforce are carer employees (CEs). Workplaces lack support programs and initiatives resulting in CEs taking absences from work and opting for early retirement. These circumstances additionally decrease productivity and economic growth, and cause strains on the psychological, physical, and financial well-being of CEs. Many newcomers to Canada are providing care to those across transnational boundaries while being employed. These immigrants are known as transnational CEs (TCEs). The research questions this secondary analysis aims to answer are “What are the experiences of visible minority TCEs before and after the Covid-19 pandemic in London, Ontario, and what are the implications of these experiences for policymakers and employers?”. A qualitative thematic analysis by Braun & Clarke using the ATLAS.ti coding software was conducted to examine the dataset on South American, African, Pakistani, and Syrian descent TCEs. The philosophical orientation that underpins this study is constructivism and the theoretical framework that informs the findings is the intersectionality theory. Data analysis generated from the 29 participants in the study revealed three main themes: (1) the variations in gender-based transnational care, (2) cultural expectations of caregiving, and (3) recommendations to policymakers and employers. The results of the study suggest that male TCEs are more likely to provide financial caregiving, whereas female TCEs do more physical and emotional caring. Furthermore, culture influences caregiving as there are higher expectations from the only or eldest child in the family and those who live abroad. The findings also illustrate that there is a lack of caregiver-friendly workplace policies (CFWPs) in the workplaces (e.g., family responsibility leave) and TCEs lack knowledge about CFWPs. They recommended financial relief, employer support, and extended vacation/family leave to help them balance work and transnational caregiving. Study implications include employer engagement to promote and sustain visible minority TCEs’ health and well-being and educating TCEs and employers on the importance of CFWPs.