The relationship between acculturation strategy and job satisfaction for professional Chinese immigrants in the Australian workplace

Based on Berry's seminal work on the acculturation process, this study investigates the individual differences of professional Chinese immigrants (PCIs) in terms of their attitudes toward acculturation strategies, and the relationship between acculturation strategies and job satisfaction of PCIs in the Australian workplace. Our survey of a sample of 220 PCIs reveals that PCIs have a predominant preference for maintaining their home culture and that the impact of the acculturation process on their job satisfaction is significant. PCIs adopting the assimilation strategy report the highest level of job satisfaction, while those who embrace the separation strategy have the lowest level. This study provides valuable information for managers and organizations in managing immigrant employees via effective acculturation programs.

► Professional Chinese immigrants (PCIs) have a predominant preference for retaining their heritage identity.
► Separation, not integration, was the most popular choice among PCIs.
► Participants who used an assimilation strategy had significantly better English proficiency than those who used separation.
► PCIs who adopt the assimilation strategy report significantly higher levels of job satisfaction than those who adopt the separation strategy.
► PCIs using marginalization did not report lower job satisfaction compared with people using other strategies.