limited English felt limited in their ability to progress in their workplace and are also vulnerable to being forced to work in illegal working conditions or not claiming contractual benefits.200 Research on the settlement experiences of Pacific migrants in New Zealand also shows that Pacific migrants with English proficiency are more likely to be employed.201 Pacific workers can also be socially isolated at work. Research has found that Pacific workers report being actively made to feel as if they do not belong with their Pākehā co-workers and being excluded from social events.202 This was made clear by the participants in Tupou’s research on Pacific women’s experiences of the glass ceiling in various occupations.203 One woman described her experiences of isolation within the workplace: “I feel left out, all my female colleagues went out for lunch one day, they don’t invite me, I was really sad, maybe because I am a Pacific woman.”204 Other participants reported being made fun of for their skin colour or food, even when invited to social gatherings such as lunch.205 Despite this treatment within the workplace, Pacific workers in this study recognised that these social events were key to networking and career progression and were frustrated at their exclusion.206 One participant cited by Tupou noted: “The rules and the structure of my workplace were designed to suit men, the boss socialised with the white men at work; they used to go out for sport events, nothing for us women.”207 The experiences of Tupou’s participants in being actively excluded from important networking 30 and social events are consistent with literature that finds that non-white workers, especially women, frequently report such an issue.208 Social exclusion becomes a further issue when it also impacts a person’s perception of self-worth. Being excluded both socially and in workplace progression often affects work productivity and the likelihood of being promoted.209 This is neatly summarised by a Pacific woman in Tupou’s study: “I just do my best, I don’t go the extra mile because my manager won’t take any notice.”210 5.1.5 Pacific leaders in the workplace Pacific workers in leadership roles report discrimination and disconnection from other Pacific peoples. Pacific workers reported being denied entry to locations within company premises as people do not believe they are in leadership roles.211 Interestingly, progression in the workplace for some Pacific workers meant a severing of relationships with their Pacific colleagues as they moved from peer to supervisor, which could be at odds with the shared Pacific values of collectively and reciprocity.212 Pacific workplace leaders report that, the higher they climb within their industry, the less likely it is that other Pacific people will tell you when something has gone wrong. This can be a difficult and isolating experience.213 These narratives make clear that progression in and of itself is not a solution for Pacific workers’ experiences of discrimination and isolation within workplaces in Aotearoa New Zealand. 200 Auckland Co-design Lab, The Attitude Gap Challenge, 16. 201 Sin and Ormsby, The Settlement Experience of Pacific Migrants in New Zealand, 21-22. 202 Tupou, “The Effect of the Glass Ceiling,” 46. 203 Tupou, “The Effect of the Glass Ceiling,” 44. 204 Tupou, “The Effect of the Glass Ceiling,” 44. 205 Tupou, “The Effect of the Glass Ceiling,” 44. 206 Tupou, “The Effect of the Glass Ceiling,” 46, 55; Radio New Zealand. “Workplace Challenges for Pasifika Peoples – Brown Glass Ceiling.” Nine to Noon (podcast), February 11, 2019, accessed July 12, 2021. https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/ programmes/ninetonoon/audio/2018681954/workplace-challenges-for-pasifika-peoples-brown-glass-ceiling. 207 Tupou, “The Effect of the Glass Ceiling,” 55. 208 Tupou, “The Effect of the Glass Ceiling,” 24; Mesui, Mary. “Pacific Island Women’s Experiences of the ‘Brown Glass Ceiling’ in Senior Management in Aotearoa New Zealand.” Master’s thesis, Auckland University of Technology, 2019, 15. https:// openrepository.aut.ac.nz/handle/10292/12621. 209 Radio New Zealand, “Workplace Challenges for Pasifika Peoples.” 210 Tupou, “The Effect of Glass Ceilings,” 55. 211 Radio New Zealand, “Workplace Challenges for Pasifika Peoples.” 212 Auckland Co-design Lab, The Attitude Gap Challenge, 15. 213 Feilo, “Talanoa,” 53.