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Managing Workforce Diversity in Canada: An Empirical Study of the Factors Affecting the Adoption and Success of Diversity Strategies in Canadian Organisations
Haq, Rana
Haq, Rana
Publication Date
2019
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The University of Bradford theses are licenced under a Creative Commons Licence.
Peer-Reviewed
Open Access status
Accepted for publication
Institution
University of Bradford
Department
Faculty of Management, Law and Social Sciences
Awarded
2019
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Abstract
Equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in the workplace continues to be a
dominant universal issue. Through its Employment Equity Act (EEA), Canada has
acted as an exemplar in influencing equality legislation in other countries. The
Canadian government’s thirtieth EEA annual report to Parliament presents a very
positive picture of equality in employment for the four designated groups, DG:
(women, Aboriginal peoples, persons with disabilities, and visible minorities) in
the four industry sectors (Banking, Communication, Transportation, Other)
federally regulated under the EEA’s legislated employment equity programme
(LEEP). However, this claim of success is challenged in this study as specious in
showing uniform take-up using aggregated LEEP data. A theoretical model is
developed between variables representing external pressures, at the macro national level, internal pressures, at the meso-organisational level, and their
hypothesized relationships with reactive and proactive EDI focused programmes
pursued by LEEP organisations. This model is empirically validated by applying
partial least squares structural equation path modelling to data collected from 440
LEEP organisations. Findings reveal that all four DGs are substantially under represented, relative to their labour market availability (LMA), in the majority of
individual LEEP organisations, despite over three decades following EEA
implementation. DG-LMA representation was also found to differ by industry
sector. The main contribution to knowledge of this study is the introduction of a
validated predictive EDI model developed and empirically validated for the four
designated groups in the context of Canada. Applications of this generic model
to other countries for benchmarking and comparative studies could contribute to
EDI theory, practice and policy, internationally.
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Type
Thesis
Qualification name
PhD