(University of Oregon, 2014-09-29) Abbah, Blessing; Chrisinger, Colleen
A qualitative research design served to explore the effects of human resource policies in the workplace with narratives developed from a group of 15 women comprising African immigrants and their U.S counterparts in Oregon through analysis and interpretation of data from one-on-one interviews. The findings suggest that human resource policies in the workplace greatly impact women's work experiences.
This study explored major factors such as pay difference, language and communication proficiency, cultural/religious differences, skill transferability and employment skill prejudice and discrimination and working conditions. Despite women's qualifications, competence and belief that equal skill mean equal opportunity, the strictures of human resource work policies makes it harder to excel in the workplace. Work experience and policies in Africa and America differ, and life circumstances of African women are distinctively different from those of their U.S counterparts. The analysis concludes with recommendations and implication for employers, managers, and human resource personnel.
