different generations in different ways. Young Pacific
workers may have not yet developed the skills or
confidence to negotiate new work environments.192
Some managers lack awareness of how to support
young Pacific workers, and negative experiences
of young Pacific workers can reinforce that being
‘different’ can be risky so they are unlikely to speak
out or up to management.193 Simultaneously, young
Pacific workers have reported feeling the racism of
low expectations.194
5.1.3 Pacific peoples’ experiences with complaints
processes
Institutional habit means that workplace complaint
processes can reflect the foundations upon which
a company was built instead of the more diverse
workforce it might currently have.195 The literature
suggests that this means that Pacific workers may
not use the established complaint procedures in their
workplaces because of differing experiences with
hierarchies, often due to dissimilarity between their
own values and the company’s habits.196 Complaining
can also be seen as challenging elders, which is
considered unacceptable behaviour within some
Pacific contexts.197
5.1.4 General workplace communication issues
for Pacific peoples
Communication and language barriers are seen
as key barriers to Pacific workers’ job progression.
Failure to address barriers in communication may
result in Pacific peoples’ hesitation to share ideas or
innovations or report disagreements.198 Language
is also cited as a reason for the lack of Pacific
workers’ progression through the workforce, with
Pacific workers reporting they would often see their
managers frustrated that their instructions had not
been understood.199 Simultaneously, employees with
192
Auckland Co-design Lab, The Attitude Gap Challenge, 89.
193
Auckland Co-design Lab, The Attitude Gap Challenge, 96.
194
New Zealand Human Rights Commission, Talanoa, 14.
195
Ahmed, On Being Included, 40.
196
Auckland Co-design Lab, The Attitude Gap Challenge, 37; Feilo, “Talanoa,” 67-69; Chen, National Culture and its Impact, 42.
197
Auckland Co-design Lab, The Attitude Gap Challenge, 37; Feilo, “Talanoa,” 60.
198
Auckland Co-design Lab, The Attitude Gap Challenge, 37; Feilo, “Talanoa,” 64-65.
199
Feilo, “Talanoa,” 53.
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