Cross-cultural communication issues We heard about cultural differences and language barriers and how they impact Pacific workers’ ability to request leave and raise concerns. Overall, many Pacific workers felt that they were not being heard in the workplace. The themes we heard from Pacific workers about communication were: • differing cultural norms • language barriers • employers’ role in communication • Pacific workers supporting each other to communicate. Differing cultural norms Due to their collective nature, most Pacific cultures are similar in their communication style and share similar cultural norms and values. These can often be at odds with the dominant culture in a workplace. Examples of practices that go against Pacific cultural norms include talking about one’s achievements and speaking against your elders or managers. I believe our Pacific people are so humble and will just get in there and do the job with no complaints. We tend to shy away from asking for a pay rise because I know it is not within our nature to do so. Workplaces takes advantage of that. This should be brought to light. (S324) Language barriers In addition to cultural differences, many Pacific workers believed that language was a barrier to gaining employment and pay rises. One construction worker said that “language is a barrier – English is my second language, I don’t have the right networks, that’s why I think we don’t get the job” (T064). Several Pacific workers shared their stories of how employers respond to this language barrier. One construction worker shared how he felt his employer treated him due to his limited English capability: A Pacific healthcare worker told us: I think it was about your upbringing, always told to be humble about your success, never be loud and never talk good about yourself in case you come across as being fiapoko – that’s just the way it was. And of course that applied in my work life and so I just worked really really hard and waited for someone to see – rather than I did this and I did that, you’d wait and sometimes the waiting just went on and on … As soon as I found my voice and some of my colleagues would still be in the same mindframe that I was in quite a few years back and just wait. It wasn’t that they couldn’t do the job, but it was that they didn’t like promoting themselves because … it was such an ingrained thing in them … not to be as self-promoting. (T010) As a result, Pacific workers in Aotearoa New Zealand can operate in an environment with different cultural norms from their own. Many Pacific workers shared that they are often too shy to communicate, especially on matters of pay. One person told us: 56 I think they take advantage of me because how my English is not that good and my concerns when raised with them is never taken seriously until I get my union involved. (S200) Employers’ role in communication Pacific workers identified that positive and reaffirming employer communication with employees is vital for a healthy workplace – it helps people feel safe to do their job and to exercise their rights. Many of the stories we heard from Pacific workers across the different sectors identify a lack of understanding by employers of Pacific culture. Several Pacific workers from the health and agriculture sector shared their experiences when they attempted to communicate with their employers about their various concerns. Many Pacific workers felt that their employer pretended to care but “was a really difficult person to talk to and super busy and unavailable” (S175).