A qualitative study of lived experiences of underrepresented electrical workers using creative non-fiction.

Women electricians faced inadequate job site accommodations and sexism in the workplace.

• Findings were illustrated through Story 1: 'Asking for a ride: being a women electrician'
• The story depicted the experiences of a woman apprentice navigating workplace challenges
• Inadequate physical accommodations at job sites were identified as a key barrier
• Sexism was identified as a persistent challenge in the workplace environment

Indigenous and racialized electrical workers encountered language barriers and discriminatory comments in the workplace.

• Findings were illustrated through Story 2: 'The lunch talk: Indigenous people and racialized individuals in the trade'
• Language barriers were identified as a challenge to workplace integration for these groups
• Discriminatory comments were reported as a lived experience by Indigenous and racialized participants
• The study included participants who self-identified as Indigenous peoples and/or racialized individuals among the eleven total participants

Electrical workers with physical disabilities experienced impacts on daily work performance and mental health strains from managing physical job demands.

• Findings were illustrated through Story 3: 'Luke's notes: living and working with disability'
• Managing physical demands of electrical work was identified as a particular challenge for workers with disabilities
• Mental health strains were linked to the challenges of working with a physical disability in this industry
• Participants self-identified as persons with disabilities as one of the underrepresented group categories studied

Underrepresented electrical workers reported challenges in seeking workplace support due to a 'toughness' culture within the industry.

• A prevailing 'toughness' culture was identified as a barrier to help-seeking behavior across underrepresented groups
• This cultural norm was described as limiting access to mental health and workplace support resources
• The finding applied broadly across the underrepresented groups studied, including women, Indigenous peoples, racialized individuals, and persons with disabilities
• This barrier compounded existing challenges related to lack of accommodations, limited social support, and discrimination

A qualitative narrative design using creative non-fiction was employed to capture the lived experiences of eleven underrepresented electrical workers.

• Eleven participants were recruited who self-identified as women, Indigenous peoples, racialized individuals, and/or persons with disabilities
• One-on-one interviews were conducted with all participants
• Interview data were first analyzed using a narrative thematic approach
• The thematic analysis then informed the development of three creative non-fictional stories
• This methodological approach was used to explore lived experiences related to mental health and workplace integration

Underrepresented electrical workers experienced a lack of accommodations, limited social support, and workplace discrimination as persistent barriers to mental health and workplace integration.

• Barriers were identified across all three underrepresented group categories examined in the study
• Lack of accommodations was reported as a structural barrier within the workplace
• Limited social support was identified as contributing to challenges with workplace integration
• Experiences of discrimination were reported as ongoing rather than isolated incidents
• The authors recommended that electrical employers foster an inclusive organizational culture that prioritizes health and psychosocial well-being