In The Community
It May Lead to Greater Stress and Anxiety
Photo by Nik on UnsplashConstantly altering your language, tone, and appearance to meet workplace or societal expectations can lead to greater stress and anxiety. This ongoing effort to blend in with the dominant culture creates a cycle of anxiety, especially when they feel like they must monitor themselves at all times to avoid judgment or negative stereotypes. The need to be hyper-aware of how you’re perceived is mentally exhausting, especially when you’re already juggling other things, including work. This is anxiety-inducing and that anxiety can be even more intense if you’re involved in high-stress environments. Ultimately, it can affect your ability to fully engage in tasks or make confident decisions.
It May Make You Feel Inauthentic and Affect Your Sense of Identity
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Code-switching forces people of color to compartmentalize parts of their identity. It’s no surprise that leads to a sense of inauthenticity. When you have to constantly suppress your natural way of speaking or expressing your culture, it can only lead to internal conflict. Over time, this can make you feel disconnected from your authentic self and true identity. The mental burden of “playing a role” for most of your day can lead to feeling alienated from your cultural roots. Is that a fair price to pay?
It May Cause Burnout and Emotional Fatigue
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The emotional labor of constantly adjusting speech, appearance, and behavior requires a lot of mental energy. Latinas and other POCs may feel like they’re performing, often for hours on end. So it’s not surprising to feel exhausted at the end of the day or whatever occasion you were exposed to that made you decide to code-switch. This fatigue can eventually lead to burnout, especially at work, making you feel disconnected. This is why working in places that lack cultural inclusivity isn’t sustainable in the long term. You will eventually feel overworked and emotionally depleted.
It May Lead to Imposter Syndrome
Photo by Resume Genius on UnsplashImposter syndrome, the psychological phenomenon where people doubt their own achievements and fear they’re frauds, is very common among people who code-switch. Code-switching can deepen your feelings of imposter syndrome because you know you’re being inauthentic. For example, Latinas often worry about being “not Latina enough” in predominantly white spaces, while simultaneously worrying about being “too Latina” for professional success. This dual pressure can make it hard to develop a sense of confidence in their abilities and achievements.
It May Cause Social Isolation
Photo by Carolina on UnsplashPeople of color who frequently code-switch may feel socially isolated both in the workplace and in their personal lives. In trying to fit into a corporate culture, it’s common for them to hold back from sharing cultural experiences or engaging in casual conversations that reflect their heritage. This can make it harder to form meaningful connections with coworkers or to feel fully integrated into the workplace community.
It May Have a Negative Impact on Work Performance
Photo by Walls.io on UnsplashWhen you focus a lot of mental energy on code-switching, your work performance can suffer. The pressure to self-monitor can be a major distraction from job responsibilities, not to mention the mental strain of code-switching can reduce focus, making you less productive. The constant mental balancing act may also make you more hesitant to share your innovative ideas or offer leadership contributions, ultimately limiting your professional growth.
It May Cause Long-Term Psychological Damage
Photo by Matthew Ball on UnsplashBeing labeled as "acting white" can lead to long-term psychological harm. People of color who frequently code-switch may experience a sense of not belonging in either their cultural community or their workplace. Over time, this disconnect can result in feelings of alienation, loneliness, and even identity confusion. When you feel like you don’t fit in anywhere, it can create insecurities that run deep. It can also lead to mental health issues like anxiety or even depression.
It’s Simply Less Joyful!
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Perhaps the worst thing about code-switching is that it may steal you of your joy. For example, Latinas are often vibrant and expressive women with rich cultural traditions and values. Dimming your own light to fit into a certain context can take a big emotional toll on you. When you have to deny your cultural pride, you’re denying an important part of yourself. How can that lead to joy or satisfaction?
While code-switching can feel like a necessary evil to do well at work or fit into social situations, the psychological cost may be too high to pay. Holding workplaces and society at large accountable for their lack of inclusivity could be a much better use of our energy!
There’s little to no cultural inclusivity in the workplace
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A lack of cultural inclusivity is one of the most common reasons why Latinos feel like there’s something off about their workplace. When a work environment or corporate culture doesn’t embrace diversity or inclusivity, it can quickly make you feel like an outsider. If you feel isolated and are constantly experiencing microaggressions, limited opportunities, and a lack of support no matter how hard you try, it could be time to think about an exit plan.
Growth opportunities are limited for you
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Limited growth opportunities will keep your career advancement in the toilet. If you feel like you’ve hit the ceiling in your current role and there’s nowhere else to go from there, it may be time to explore other offers. Sometimes, moving on is just what makes sense if you feel like you’ve already achieved everything there was to achieve. If you’re purposefully held back or passed over for reasons that have nothing to do with your performance, that’s also a good reason to explore new offers. If you’re not growing or aren’t allowed to grow, you need to find a place where you can. Otherwise, burnout won’t be too far behind.
You’re experiencing unequal pay and treatment
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Racial and gender pay gaps are still very much a problem and it affects all people of color, including Latinos. For example, Latinas only make 57 cents for every dollar a man makes, and that wage gap varies from state to state. If you’re experiencing that wage gap and Latino employees aren’t fairly compensated compared to their counterparts, you need to take action. Discriminatory practices are illegal and you deserve better. While tackling the wage gap requires a systematic approach, finding workplaces that value employees equally is a step in the right direction for your personal career.
There’s little to no representation in leadership
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Representation matters in the workplace, especially in leadership roles. If you don't see Latino professionals in leadership positions or if there’s a lack of diversity in decision-making roles, that’s an indicator there may be limited opportunities for advancement for you. If you’re Latino and your work environment isn’t inclusive, the odds will likely be stacked against you.
You constantly feel undervalued
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You know what you’re worth as an employee and the value you bring to the table as a dedicated, productive team player. If you don’t feel like your employers do, that’s a big issue. If your efforts constantly go unrecognized and you feel overlooked most of the time, it could be time to look for a role where your contributions do matter. Being undervalued can take a toll on your motivation, which affects performance and ultimately keeps you from reaching your goals. You should feel appreciated in the workplace and it’s not about needing external validation, it’s about what’s right.
You can’t seem to find a good work-life balance
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We all know that striking a balance between work and personal life is key for overall well-being. If your current job demands way more than the job position entails or it affects your ability to maintain good health, you will get burned out. Your workplace and employers should support employee well-being for everyone, not just you. Working excessive hours all the time and dealing with limited flexibility will eventually take its toll on you. If you’re not allowed to create and maintain that work-life balance, it could be time to look for a better fit.
Your values aren’t aligned
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If your job responsibilities or company practices conflict with your personal values or ethical beliefs, you probably feel disconnected and uncomfortable a lot of the time. We have values and a moral compass for a reason. When we’re forced to act against that, everything feels wrong. If that’s how you’re feeling in your current workplace, searching for opportunities that do align with your values will bring you peace. Your career shouldn’t make you feel like you’re acting against your beliefs. It’s just not sustainable in the long term!
You constantly feel unfulfilled
Photo by Magnet.me on UnsplashLast but not least, the most telling sign that it could be time to move on to a new job is a constant feeling of unfulfillment or dissatisfaction with your job. If you find yourself dreading work and you’re never excited about anything you have to do, this is a clear indicator you’re just not aligned with your current job. Whether you’re ready for a career shift or your workplace is just not the right fit, start thinking about what needs to change and get ready to take the plunge. Transitions can be scary, but be brave and smart, and you’ll find where you should be.
