Navigating the intersections: flexible working and work–family balance among migrant women healthcare professionals in the UK

Purpose This study examines how global majority women (GMW) healthcare professionals in the UK navigate flexible working arrangements and work–family balance (WFB), investigating the impact of intersecting identities on workplace experiences. Design/methodology/approach An interpretivist approach with semi-structured interviews was conducted with 37 GMW healthcare professionals. Data were analysed using thematic analysis through intersectionality theoretical lens. Findings Five themes emerged: intersectional barriers to flexible working, workplace discrimination, cultural expectations intensified by migration, agency and adaptation strategies, and well-being implications. Results revealed significant ethnicity-based disparities in accessing flexible work, constraints from immigration status, and mental health impacts. Research limitations/implications This study extends intersectionality and spillover theories by revealing how multiple identities create unique patterns of advantage and disadvantage in workplace flexibility that conventional WFB frameworks often overlook. Practical implications Healthcare organisations should implement inclusive flexible working policies that address intersectional needs, provide bias training for managers, and develop culturally responsive support services. Originality/value This study pioneers an intersectional exploration of flexible working among GMW healthcare professionals, revealing how systemic barriers shape work–family experiences and wellbeing outcomes in ways that conventional WFB frameworks overlook.