ABSTRACT
People spend much of their daily lives at work where they often interact with those from different backgrounds. Hence, this chapter concentrates on workplace encounters in both Manchester and Barcelona. The narratives of Polish migrant women discussed in this chapter show various forms of interaction at work, including the lighter-touch and playful forms of conviviality between co-workers, characterised by the interplay of language and humour which become integral parts of convivial culture at work. This facilitates not only playful but also inclusive and bonding interaction. Ethnic and cultural differences become less important in the context of more meaningful workplace relations and friendships based on deeper social bonds, care and respect for difference, which in some instances transcend the space of the workplace. Nevertheless, the workplace can also be a place of conflict and tensions. Migrants may use survival strategies to get by, as manifested in examples of ‘forced conviviality’ characterised by involuntary and superficial interaction. Experiences of conviviality may also be limited by negative discourse about Polish migrants, exploitation, prejudiced views, and ethno-stratification in the labour market. The experiences of each research participant are shaped by different employment sectors, social positions, personal histories and spatio-temporal dynamics.
