Emotional Inclusion in the Workplace: Representation and Experiences of Exclusion Among Gender and Ethnic Minorities in Nepal’s Civil Service

Abstract

This study explores the dynamics of emotional inclusion within Nepal’s civil service, focusing on the institutional representation and workplace experiences of women and ethnic minorities. Over the past 18 years, constitutional provisions and affirmative action reservation policies have significantly enhanced numerical representation, bringing 26,274 women and individuals from marginalized communities into the civil service. However, substantive inclusion remains incomplete, as these groups continue to confront systemic barriers to professional advancement and equitable opportunities. Utilizing a qualitative research design, this study synthesizes insights from an extensive literature review of over 60 sources alongside primary data gathered from seven semi-structured interviews with civil service personnel representing Women, Dalit, Madhesi, and Adivasi Janajati communities. Thematic analysis uncovers persistent institutional challenges, including the glass ceiling, a patriarchal organizational culture, caste-based stigma, implicit bias, microaggressions, and systematic exclusion from informal, power-induced networks. These barriers collectively undermine employees' sense of belonging, psychological safety, and meaningful participation in decision-making processes. The findings demonstrate a significant disconnect between official policy pledges and actual workplace practices, highlighting the urgent need for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging, and Accessibility (DEIBA)-focused interventions, such as unconscious bias training. Ultimately, this research argues that public organizations must transcend mere numerical diversity to foster authentic emotional inclusion. To cultivate genuine representation, enhance employee engagement, and maximize institutional effectiveness and public service logic, Nepal’s civil service must build structural frameworks that institutionalize inclusive leadership, targeted mentorship initiatives, and robust emotional support systems for marginalized personnel.