Recent immigrants struggle to take time off during holidays

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The holidays are usually the time Canadians wind down from work to connect with loved ones and enjoy the festivities. Some Canadian immigrants, however, face barriers that make such activities hard to do.

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Nearly half of recent immigrants say they struggle to take time off during the holidays, according to a survey by FlightHub Group Inc. That is compared to about 21 per cent of respondents who were either born in Canada or have been established here for more than 10 years.

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The poll suggests that immigrants who arrived in Canada within the past decade deal with challenges such as financial strain, limited time off, and work pressures, which make it harder to enjoy the holidays like everyone else.

“These findings emphasize the multifaceted barriers faced by immigrants in Canada during the holiday season, and what it is like to experience (what) is often considered a time of celebration in another country (along with) higher work pressures,” FlightHub chief executive Henri Chelhot said in a press release.

Recent immigrants face various obstacles to spending time with family and loved ones during the holidays, especially when they live far away. Among these, 40 per cent cite a lack of vacation days, 36 per cent cite the high cost of travel, and 32 per cent mention financial obligations.

The survey said those holiday stressors were mentioned far more frequently by newer immigrants than those born in Canada. By comparison, only 19 per cent of those born in Canada mentioned time off as a barrier to holiday reunions.

The poll said balancing work and holiday plans presented another significant challenge for newer immigrants, who, more than other groups, felt pressure to work through the holidays. It said 13 per cent of recent immigrants reported feeling such pressure from their employers, compared to only seven per cent of Canadian-born respondents and nine per cent of those who immigrated more than 10 years ago.

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Financial pressures also further intensify the issue, with 21 per cent of recent immigrants saying they feel the need to work over the holidays to make ends meet, compared to only eight per cent of those born in Canada.

The report added that the holidays can amplify feelings of longing for loved ones, especially when family is far away.

The survey said that while 74 per cent of Canadians born in the country are planning to visit immediate family this holiday season, only 54 per cent of immigrants who arrived in the past 10 years expect to be able to do so. Additionally, a staggering 91 per cent of the latter group said they will not have enough time with their family this season.

It also noted how the holidays can be a reminder to recent immigrants of loved ones they cannot be with, with more than seven in 10 sharing this sentiment, compared to 57 per cent of long-term immigrants and 45 per cent of Canadian-born respondents.

FlightHub’s survey was conducted by Earnscliffe Strategies’ opinion research team between Nov. 14 and 17. It polled 2,005 respondents, including Canadians, long-term immigrants and recent immigrants.

• Email: dpaglinawan@postmedia.com

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