The Centre for Research on Inclusion at Work (CRIW) today announced the recipients of this year’s CRIW Ignite! research grants. Funded by the RBC Foundation, in 2021 CRIW Ignite! provided up to $5,000 to collaborative research projects that advance CRIW’s mission of conducting and sharing research that advances diversity, equity and inclusion at work.

CRIW Co-Director, Andrew Webb is pleased to see collaboration among scholars of different disciplines. “This year again, I am happy to see multidisciplinary research teams working together to increase our understanding of workplace inclusion,” he said.

The following research projects will be conducted with CRIW Ignite! funding:

Exploring the Consequences of Work-Family Imbalance

This study investigates the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on working mothers and fathers by looking at how sustained work-family conflict has impacted key employment outcomes, including productivity, job security, workforce participation, and career advancement. The study also explores how parents have adapted to manage work-family challenges, and what types of support (from employers, partners, families, and the government) have facilitated their efforts to cope. Of particular interest are the impact of factors such as gender, age of children, relationship status (single vs. partnered), and employer accommodations.

The research project will be conducted by:

  • Linda Duxbury, Chancellor’s Professor, Management, Sprott School of Business, Carleton University
  • Anita Grace, Postdoctoral Fellow, Sprott School of Business, Carleton University
  • Sandra Nelson, Ph.D. Candidate, Sprott School of Business, Carleton University

Sub-Saharan African Immigrant Women’s Lived Experiences of Labour Market Integration, Occupational Discrimination and Systemic Employment Barriers in Ontario

This study investigates the various opportunities and barriers to employment for African immigrant women in Ontario, who among racialized immigrants, report the lowest employment rates. The study also examines the impacts of employment discrimination on this group of immigrant women. Findings of this study aim to propose how inclusion and diversity policies can be honed to improve employment and inclusion opportunities for African immigrant women in Ontario.

The research project will be conducted by:

  • Diane Isabelle, Associate Professor, International Business, Sprott School of Business, Carleton University
  • Melissa Redmond, Assistant Professor, School of Social Work, Carleton University
  • Esther Adekunbi, Queen Elizabeth Scholar

Faculty Writing Groups and COVID-19 Research Support

The objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of two writing support initiatives at Carleton University meant to create productive writing periods that advance faculty publications. This study will look at how faculty members benefit from research support being offered, especially considering workload demands and other stressors exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, this study aims to examine experiences of vulnerable faculty, including Black, Indigenous and people of colour (BIPOC), female, and pre-tenure faculty members. Findings of this study can offer recommendations for how the university can support vulnerable faculty groups.

The research project will be conducted by:

  • Merridee Bujaki, Professor, Accounting, Sprott School of Business, Carleton University
  • Melissa Redmond, Assistant Professor, School of Social Work, Carleton University
  • Sarah E.K. Smith, Assistant Professor, Communication and Media Studies, School of Journalism and Communication, Carleton University

CRIW Ignite! is one of the vehicles through which CRIW aims to advance knowledge and drive change towards more inclusive workplaces that welcome and support greater participation of all peoples. For more information, visit CRIW’s web pages on Research Support and Resources and Grants.

CRIW’s research activities and knowledge-sharing efforts are possible, in part, through generous financial support from the RBC Foundation. This funding is providing opportunities for conducting and sharing innovative research on inclusion at work. CRIW is grateful for the RBC Foundation’s support in making its work possible.