Intersectional labour market experiences of discrimination of Muslim employees

This article examines discrimination and oppression in the workplace experienced by those who identify as Muslim. We draw on interviews with Muslim men and women working in various employment sectors in the Catalonia region of Spain, where people of the Islamic faith represent the largest religious minority. The lens of intersectionality is used to explore triggers for discrimination and to develop an understanding of the repercussions for Muslim employees, in terms of their opportunities, interactions with colleagues and supervisors, and positions in structures of power. The results show that Muslim employees face challenges and barriers based on prejudice and stereotypes founded on their religious identity; this manifests in many stages of their working life, from recruitment to selection and promotion decisions. However, the type of discrimination experienced by Muslim women and men differs by age, gender and occupational role. The study contributes to scholarship by highlighting strategies that Muslims adopt to enter, integrate or advance professionally in their career, and offers proposals for HR practitioners to support Muslim employees in their organizations.