Dear All,

On behalf of the Guest Editorial Team, I am happy to share that our LaFamilia Special Issue in Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion: An International Journal, titled We Are Here (Estamos Aquí): Researching the Latinx Work Experience in the United States, is officially in press and set to be published this June! The Special Issue includes five great papers focused on different aspects of the Latino experience in the workplace.

The first article, written by Carolina B. Gomez, Carlos B. Gonzalez, Monica C. Gavino, Bernardo M. Ferdman, and Patricia G. Martinez sets the stage for the whole issue. It introduces the Latino Diversity Model and dives into key intersectional dimensions around Latinidad and why they matter for organizational research.

"Latinos in the United States: understanding Latinidad and its challenges for organizational research"

The second paper in our LaFamilia Special Issue comes from Stephanie Black, Laura Guerrero, and Donna Maria Blancero. It uses the job demands-resources (JD-R) model to explore how workplace dynamics uniquely impact Hispanic workers.

Their findings point out that: 1) Latinos face more discrimination and microaggressions at work compared to non-Hispanic Whites, largely because of their ethnicity., 2) Cultural values like collectivism, familism, personalismo, simpatía, and respeto all play a big role in shaping Latino workplace experiences. and 3) Latinas often face greater family-related demands than their male counterparts.

"Hispanics in the Workplace: Their Job Demands and Resources"

In "Trabajo con dignidad: the struggle for workplace dignity in the US agricultural fields,"  Mabel Sanchez uses pláticas (friendly and intimate conversations) as her primary method. Sanchez presents a powerful qualitative study on the experiences of Latino farmworkers.

Her article highlights the concept of workplace dignity for a group that is often overlooked in management and organizational research. By bringing attention to their lived realities, the paper contributes meaningful insights and opens the door for future scholarship on Latino workplace dignity in other employment contexts.

Angelica Gutierrez starts her viewpoint article "Impostorization of Latinx scholars: it's a real "thing'" by sharing a moment when someone told her that impostor syndrome isn’t real—that it’s just a self-esteem issue. From there, she introduces a key distinction between impostor syndrome and what she calls impostorization. In her viewpoint article, Gutierrez argues that impostorization is an organizational issue—where workplace policies, practices, and everyday interactions trigger and even create feelings of impostor syndrome. Her message is clear: if we want to address impostor syndrome, we need to fix the organizational processes that caused it in the first place.

The fifth paper in our Special Issue is authored by Samantha E. Erskine, Robert (Bob) Bonner, and Verónica Caridad Rabelo. The authors present findings from interviews with a diverse group of Latina CEOs in nonprofit organizations. Through these conversations, they highlight the organizational threats and systemic challenges these leaders face and examine the strategies they use to survive, lead, and thrive. In doing so, the paper offers readers practical insights into how Latina executives navigate complex workplace dynamics, demonstrating the resilience, creativity, and strength required to succeed in leadership roles.

"Strategic intersectional identity management strategies amidst identity threats: insights from U.S. Latina nonprofit CEOs"

Lastly, the Guest Editorial team has worked diligently to curate the papers featured in this Special Issue. Our hope is that readers will find the scholarship not only insightful and meaningful but also a catalyst for further inquiry and action. More than a collection of academic articles, this Special Issue serves also serves as a direct intervention in both the national and scholarly conversations about Latinos—particularly within the business disciplines. By bringing attention to Latino organizational experiences, we aim to foster constructive dialogue and inspire the development of more inclusive and equitable outcomes for Latinos in the workplace.

Cordially, 

Carlos B. Gonzalez, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona

Monica C. Gavino, San Jose State University

Carolina B. Gomez, Florida International University

Bernardo M. Ferdman, Ferdman Consulting

Carlos J. Alsua, University of Arizona

Guest Editorial Team, Special Issue: “We are here (Estamos Aquí): researching the Latinx work experience in the United States”

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: An International Journal.

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In Memoriam

Dr. Laura Guerrero

March 7, 1970 – January 14, 2025