Job-Occupation Choice and Happiness at Work of Refugees: A Cross-Country Qualitative Research

Yıl 2023, , 620 - 636, 29.09.2023

Seher Yastıoğlu , Ali Murat Alparslan

https://doi.org/10.26466/opusjsr.1343806

Öz

This study aims at examining and comparing the situational conditions, terms and resources that are effective in the choice of job-occupation and situations that make them happy in their job in the country of origin (the country they come from) and the host country (Türkiye) from which they migrate. In line with this aim, the phenomenology approach, which is one of the qualitative research methods, has been used in this study. Qualitative data obtained as a result of structured interviews with 16 refugees who came to Türkiye from Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq, currently working in an organization or running their own business, have been subjected to content analysis. According to the findings of the study, it has been determined that the majority of the refugees (f=13) have different jobs in the country of origin and the host country, and the factors that affect their choice of job-occupation have changed. While the main factor that causes the choice of job-occupation in the country of origin is the orientation of the family and being raised in that occupation from childhood (f=6), in the host country, the job-occupation is a necessity rather than a choice (f=11), the obligation to look after the family and financial needs have been the source of the motivation to work in any kind of job. When the two countries are compared, it has been determined that the reasons for the happiness of the refugees in the work they do in the host country also change. The sources that make them happy at work in the country of origin are spending time with family, achievement, service to the country, passion for the work, financial gain, spirituality, dignity and trust. Resources that make them happy at work in the host country are financial gain, social support, autonomous working conditions, being helpful to others, equity, appreciation and spirituality.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Choice of job-occupation, happiness at work, well-being, refugee workers, qualitative study

Kaynakça

• Agudelo‐Suárez, A. A., Vargas‐Valencia, M. Y., Vahos‐Arias, J., Ariza‐Sosa, G., Rojas‐Gutiérrez, W. J., & Ronda‐Pérez, E. (2022). A qualitative study of employment, working and health conditions among Venezuelan migrants in Colombia. Health & Social Care in the Community, 30(5), e2782-e2792. https://doi.org/10.1111/hsc.13722
• Alemi, Q., Stempel, C., Baek, K., Lares, L., Villa, P., Danis, D., & Montgomery, S. (2016). Impact of postmigration living difficulties on the mental health of Afghan migrants residing in Istanbul. International Journal of Population Research, 2016(2), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1155/ 2016/7690697
• Alparslan, A. M., Yastıoğlu, S., Taş, M. A., & Özmen, M. (2022). Yaşamın-işin anlam kaynakları ve iyi oluş ilişkisi üzerine bir araştırma. Süleyman Demirel Üniversitesi Vizyoner Dergisi, 13(33), 14-33.
• Bastia, T., & Skeldon, R. (2020). Routledge handbook of migration and development. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315276908
• Bengtsson, M. (2016) How to plan and perform a qualitative study using content analysis. NursingPlus Open, 2, 8–14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.npls.2016.01.001
• Bretones, F. D., Jain, A., Leka, S., & García-López, P. A. (2020). Psychosocial working conditions and well-being of migrant workers in Spain. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(7), 1-15. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17072547
• Carter, S. M., Shih, P., Williams, J., Degeling, C., & Mooney-Somers, J. (2021). Conducting qualitative research online: Challenges and solutions. The Patient-Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, 14(6), 711-718. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40271-021-00528-w
• Çetin, İ. (2016). Labor force participation of Syrian Refugees and integration: Case of Adana and Mersin cities. Gaziantep University Journal of Social Sciences, 15(4), 1001-1016. https://doi.org/10.21547/jss.265320
• Chen, C. (2008). Career guidance with immigrants. In J. Athanasou &R. Van Esbroeck (Eds.), International handbook of career guidance (pp.419–442). Springer.
• Chen, C. (2016). Career endeavour: Pursuing a cross-cultural life transition (e-book ed.). Routledge.
• Christensen, L. B., Johnson, R. B.ve Turner L. A. (2020). Araştırma yöntemleri: Desen ve analiz (3rd Ed., A. Aypay, Trans. Ed.). Anı Publications.
• Ciğerci, N. (2012). Bursa-Kırcaali hattı: 1989’da gelen Bulgaristan göçmenleri örneği. In S. G. Ihlamur Öner, N. A. Şirin Öner (Eds.), Küreselleşme çağında göç kavramlar, tartışmalar (pp. 107-134). İletişim Publications.
• Çınar, S. (2018). İnşaat işgücü piyasasında yeni aktörler ve yeni çatışmalar: Türkiyeli işçilerin gözünden Suriyeli inşaat işçileri. Çalışma ve Toplum, 1(56), 121-137.
• Civan, O. E. (2017). İş sağlığı ve güvenliğinde özel politika gerektiren gruplar. Ankara Barosu Dergisi, 75(4), 203-290.
• Çoban, B. (2018). Türkiye’de işsizlik profili bağlamında Suriyeli gençlerin İstanbul işgücü piyasasına katılım sorunları. Çalışma ve Toplum, 56(1), 193-216.
• Colic‐Peisker, V., & Tilbury, F. (2007). Integration into the Australian labour market: The experience of three “visibly different” groups of recently arrived refugees. International Migration, 45(1), 59-85. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2435.2007.00396.x
• Creswell, J. W. (2016). Araştırma deseni: Nitel, nicel ve karma yöntem yaklaşımları (2nd Ed., S. B. Demir, Trans. Ed.). Eğiten Kitap Publications.
• Danna, K., & Griffin, R. (1999). Health and well-being in the workplace: A review and synthesis of the literature. Journal of Management, 25(3), 357–384. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0149-2063(99)00006-9
• Dietz, J., Joshi, C., Esses, V. M., Hamilton, L. K., & Gabarrot, F. (2015). The skill paradox: Explaining and reducing employment discrimination against skilled immigrants. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 26(10), 1318-1334. https://doi.org/10.1080/09585192.2014.990398
• Ender-Büyükbay, S., Ünler, E., & Bozbura, F.T. (2017). Development of a new construct of employee well-being: A qualitative study. The Journal of Happiness & Well-Being, 5(1), 116-125.
• Engin, F. (2017). Doğu Karadeniz’de çay tarımında çalışan gürcü işçilerin çalışma koşulları üzerine gözlemler. Fiscaoeconomia, 1(3), 1-13.
• Erol, E., Akyol, A. E., Salman, C., Pınar, E., Gümüşcan, İ., Mısırlı, K. Y., Kahveci, M., & Mutlu, P. (2017). Suriyeli sığınmacıların Türkiye’de emek piyasasına dahil olma süreçleri ve etkileri: İstanbul tekstil sektörü örneği. İstanbul: Birleşik Metal-İş Yayınları, No: 1, 1-110.
• Eurofound. (2012). Fifth European working conditions survey. Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg.
• Fedrigo, L., Cerantola, M., Frésard, C. E., & Masdonati, J. (2021). Refugees’ meaning of work: A qualitative investigation of work purposes and expectations. Journal of Career Development, 5(1), 52-68. https://doi.org/10.1177/08948453211066343
• Gauche, C., De Beer, L. T., & Brink, L. (2017). Managing employee well-being: A qualitative study exploring job and personal resources of at-risk employees. SA Journal of Human Resource Management, 15(1), 1-13. https://doi.org/10.4102/sajhrm.v15i0.957
• Ginevra, M. C., Di Maggio, I., Santilli, S., & Nota, L. (2021). The role of career adaptability and future orientation on future goals in refugees. British Journal of Guidance and Counselling, 49(2), 272-286. https://doi.org/10.1080/03069885.2020.1865874
• Güneri, C. (2021). Beliren yetişkinlik dönemindeki suriyeli göçmenlerin kariyer ihtiyaçlarının belirlenmesi [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. Hasan Kalyoncu University.
• Herold, R., Lieb, M., Borho, A., Voss, A., Unverzagt, S., Morawa, E., & Erim, Y. (2023). Relationship between working conditions and mental health of migrants and refugees/asylum seekers vs. natives in Europe: A systematic review. International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, 96, 931–963. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-023-01981-w
• Hill, C. M., Williams, E. C., & Ornelas, I. J. (2019). Help wanted: Mental health and social stressors among Latino day laborers. American Journal of Men’s Health, 13(2). https://doi.org/10.1177/1557988319838424
• Hynie, M. (2018). Refugee integration: Research and policy. Peace and Conflict: Journal of Peace Psychology, 24(3), 265–276. https://doi.org/10.1037/pac0000326
• İncili, F. Z., & Aysan, Ü. (2023). Covid-19 salgınının geçici koruma altındaki suriyelilerin istihdam ve çalışma koşullarına etkisi. MANAS Sosyal Araştırmalar Dergisi, 12(1), 209-223.
• International Labor Organization (Uluslararası Çalışma Örgütü) (2023, June 12). İnsana yakışır iş. ILO Türkiye Ofisi. https://www.ilo.org/ankara/areas-of-work/dw/lang--tr/index.htm
• International Labour Organization (ILO). (2020). Protecting migrant workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: Recommendations for policy-makers and constituents. https://www.ilo.org/global/topics/labour-migration/publications/WCMS_743268/lang--en/index.htm
• Jaiswal, A., & Arun, C. J. (2020). What comprises well-being at workplace? A qualitative inquiry among service sector employees in India. South Asian Journal of Business and Management Cases, 9(3), 330-342. https://doi.org/10.1177/2277977920958508
• Jiang, Z., Wang, Y., Guo, F., & Gollan, P. J. (2018). Vocational experiences and quality of life of migrants: Overview and future research. Social Indicators Research, 139, 403-414. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-017-1727-9
• Khatri, P., & Gupta, P. (2019). Development and validation of employee wellbeing scale–a formative measurement model. International Journal of Workplace Health Management, 12(5), 352-368. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJWHM-12-2018-0161
• Kocadaş, B. (2018). Suriyeli sığınmacılar ve çalışma hayatı: Sorunlar, tespitler ve öneriler. Sosyolojik Düşün, 3(1-2), 1-13.
• Lambert, N. M., Stillman, T. F., Baumeister, R. F., Fincham, F. D., Hicks, J. A., & Graham, S. M. (2010). Family as a salient source of meaning in young adulthood. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 5(5), 367-376. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2010.516616
• Le, H., Jiang, Z., Fujimoto, Y., & Nielsen, I. (2018). Inclusion and affective well-being: Roles of justice perceptions. Personnel Review, 47(4), 806-820. https://doi.org/10.1108/PR-03-2017-0078
• Le, H., Nielsen, K., & Noblet, A. (2022). The well-being and voice of migrant workers in participatory organizational interventions. International Migration, 60(3), 52-71. https://doi.org/10.1111/imig.12885
• Lindert, J., von Ehrenstein, O. S., Priebe, S., Mielck, A., & Brähler, E. (2009). Depression and anxiety in labor migrants and refugees–a systematic review and meta-analysis. Social science & Medicine, 69(2), 246-257.
• Lips-Wiersma, M., Haar, J., & Cooper–Thomas, H. D. (2023). Is meaningful work always a resource toward wellbeing? The effect of autonomy, security and multiple dimensions of subjective meaningful work on wellbeing. Personnel Review, 52(1), 321-341. https://doi.org/10.1108/PR-10-2020-0754
• Liu, X., Bowe, S. J., Li, L., Too, L. S., & LaMontagne, A. D. (2020). Psychosocial job characteristics and mental health: Do associations differ by migrant status in an Australian working population sample?. PloS One, 15(11), https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0242906
• Lordoğlu, K., & Aslan, M. (2016). En fazla Suriyeli göçmen alan beş kentin emek piyasalarında değişimi: 2011-2014. Çalışma ve Toplum, 2(49), 789-808
• Luksyte, A., Spitzmueller, C., & Y. Rivera-Minaya, C. (2014). Factors relating to wellbeing of foreign-born Hispanic workers. Journal of Managerial Psychology, 29(6), 685-704. https://doi.org/10.1108/JMP-10-2012-0322
• Man, G. (2004). Gender, work and migration: Deskilling Chinese immigrant women in Canada. Women’s Studies International Forum, 27(2), 135–148. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wsif.2004.06.004
• Merriam, S. B. (2018). Nitel araştırma: Desen ve uygulama için rehber (3th Ed., S. Turan, Trans. Ed.). Nobel Akademik Publications.
• Ministry of Labor and Social Security (Çalışma ve Sosyal Güvenlik Bakanlığı). (2021). Yabancıların çalışma izinleri. https://www.csgb.gov.tr/media/87487/yabanciizin2020.pdf
• Naderifar, M., Goli, H., & Ghaljaie, F. (2017). Snowball sampling: A purposeful method of sampling in qualitative research. Strides in Development of Medical Education, 14(3), 1-6. https://doi.org/10.5812/sdme.67670
• Newman, A., Nielsen, I., Smyth, R., & Hirst, G. (2018). Mediating role of psychological capital in the relationship between social support and wellbeing of refugees. International Migration, 56(2), 117-132. https://doi.org/10.1111/imig.12415
• Pasca, R., & Wagner, S. L. (2012). Occupational stress, mental health and satisfaction in the Canadian multicultural workplace. Social Indicators Research, 109(3), 377-393. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-011-9907-5
• Patton, M. Q. (2005). Qualitative research. John Wiley & Sons.
• Paul, K. I., & Moser K. (2009). Unemployment impairs mental health: Meta-analyses. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 74(3), 264–282. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2009.01.001
• Pescud, M., Teal, R., Shilton, T., Slevin, T., Ledger, M., Waterworth, P., & Rosenberg, M. (2015). Employers’ views on the promotion of workplace health and wellbeing: A qualitative study. BMC Public Health, 15(1), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-015-2029-2
• Porru, S., Elmetti, S., & Arici, C. (2014). Psychosocial risk among migrant workers: What we can learn from literature and field experiences. La Medicina del Lavoro, 105(2), 109–129.
• Ramirez-Garcia, C., Perea, J. G. Á. D., & Junco, J. G. D. (2019). Happiness at work: Measurement scale validation. Revista de Administração de Empresas, 59(5), 327-340. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0034-759020190503
• Rosenberg, J. (2019). Why are you seeking refuge? Conducting evaluations of Central American asylum seekers. Journal of Human Rights and Social Work, 4(4), 229-237. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41134-019-00097-x
• Shirmohammadi, M., Beigi, M., & Richardson, J. (2023). Subjective well-being among blue-collar immigrant employees: A systematic literature review. Human Resource Management Review, 33(1), 100914. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrmr.2022.100914
• Silverman, D. (2016). Qualitative research. Sage Publications.
• Simkhada, P. P., Regmi, P. R., van Teijlingen, E., & Aryal, N. (2017). Identifying the gaps in Nepalese migrant workers’ health and well-being: A review of the literature. Journal of Travel Medicine, 24(4), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1093/jtm/tax021
• Singh, S., & Aggarwal, Y. (2018). Happiness at work scale: Construction and psychometric validation of a measure using mixed method approach. Journal of Happiness Studies, 19(5), 1439-1463. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-017-9882-x
• Spitzer, D. L., Thambiah, S., Wong, Y. L., & Kaundan, M. K. (2023). Globalization and the health and well-being of migrant domestic workers in Malaysia. Globalization and Health, 19(29). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12992-023-00925-w
• Stave, S. E., Kebede, T. A., & Kattaa, M. (2021). Impact of work permits on decent work for Syrians in Jordan. International Labour Organization.
• Strauss, A., & Corbin, J. (1990). Basics of qualitative research: Grounded theory procedures and techniques. Sage Publications.
• Suojanen, I. (2012). Work for your happiness, defining and measuring happiness at work [Unpublished Master’s Thesis]. University of Turku.
• Tesch, R. (1990). Qualitative research: Analysis types and software tools. The Falmer Press. The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) Türkiye. (2023, June 12). Türkiye’de mülteci ve sığınmacılar. https://www.unhcr.org/tr/turkiyedeki-multeciler-ve-siginmacilar
• The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR). (2023, June 12). Refugee data finder. https://www.unhcr.org/refugee-statistics/
• Vaquera, E., & Aranda, E. (2011). The multiple dimensions of transnationalism: Examining their relevance to immigrants' subjective well-being. Journal of Social Research & Policy, 2(2), 47-72.
• Wang, X., & Sangalang, P. J. (2005). Work adjustment and job satisfaction of Filipino immigrant employees in Canada. Canadian Journal of Administrative Sciences, 22(3), 243-254. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1936-4490.2005.tb00369.x
• World Health Organization. (2020). Promoting the health of migrant workers in the WHO European Region during COVID-19. Interim guidance, 6 November 2020 (No. WHO/EURO: 2020-1384-41134-55925). World Health Organization. Regional Office for Europe.
• Yalçın, H. (2022). Bir araştırma deseni olarak fenomenoloji. Anadolu Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, 22(Özel Sayı 2), 213-232.
• Yalim, A.C. (2020). The impacts of contextual factors on psychosocial wellbeing of Syrian refugees: Findings from Turkey and the United States. Journal of Social Service Research, 47(1), 104-117. https://doi.org/10.1080/01488376.2020.1717717