New Canadian Federal Correctional Officers Striving to Be Accepted: A Source of Occupational Stress

In the current article, we explore how divisions in the Correctional Officer (CO) workspace, according to new officers, contribute to workplace culture(s). We analyzed semi‐structured interviews with COs ( n = 72), who had approximately 1 year of occupational tenure in Canadian federal penitentiaries, to nuance how COs interpret diversities in their relationships with colleagues and how, in turn, these relationships shape the workplace culture. Findings reveal social dynamics and peer groups create a stressful organizational culture for COs, particularly new COs or those who exhibit an unsatisfactory response to an incident. However, new COs feel their stress is tempered through social inclusion by other junior COs with less occupational tenure or by inclusion by the more senior officers. Navigating social relationships with colleagues remains a significant source of stress for COs, with several key contributing factors, such as feeling excluded by colleagues, the pervasive nature of gossip, as well as differences between training and realities of CO work, and attitudes toward occupational tenure. Implications of workplace culture are discussed, with practical considerations, including training, to create a more inclusive and less stressful CO workspace.