Spanish in the Workplace - Multilingual Connections

Adding pictograms to translated documents

March 8, 2013 By bridget

One great resource for a multilingual workplace is using images, or pictograms, in documents. Images can be especially useful in safety manuals or policy and procedure documents, where communicating detailed information is essential to business and human resources.

Translating important information from the majority language (say English) into the minority language (Spanish, for example) is crucial to a safe and fair workplace. Using pictograms to communicate can help those with limited language skills in either the majority or minority languages.

Multilingual Connections can not only translate your workplace documents but also add pictograms to be sure that all employees understand the important communications to remain safe and content at work.

Filed Under: Business, Cultural competency, English in the Workplace, Immigrant workforce, Spanish in the Workplace, Workplace diversity

826CHI Staff Studies Spanish to Teambuild and Connect with Parents

December 10, 2012 By bridget

826CHI is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting students ages 6 to 18 with their creative and expository writing skills, and to helping teachers inspire their students to write.

Many of the students that attend 826CHI writing programs come from Spanish-speaking homes. Their parents are actively involved, but the language barrier between the staff and parents was becoming a frustration.

With only one or two people on staff speaking Spanish, 826CHI was not fully supporting its parent group. When a Spanish-speaker would call the office, many times the person who answered would be at a loss. “I’m sorry, the person who speaks Spanish isn’t here right now.”

Executive Director Barry Benson suggested that the 826CHI staff learn Spanish. Not only would staff be able to communicate with Spanish-speaking parents, they could create stronger relationships with each other through team building.

Benson set up Spanish classes with Multilingual Connections. 826CHI staff attend class for one hour per week at either the beginner or intermediate level.

At first, Benson thought that with everyone’s diverse schedules, choosing a good time for classes would be difficult, and interest would fade. To Benson’s delight the Spanish classes, which began last May, have a 100% participation rate. 826CHI staff find their Spanish instruction so important that they schedule around the class time. Even the board president attends classes!

Benson says every day is a success story, and is thrilled with the results. “It’s gone beyond being a smart investment. We’re improving morale and getting to know each other.”

Multilingual Connections classes always teach language within culture, and the 826CHI staff have plenty of student work to practice from. The group recently translated a complete “I Wish” story written by a fifth-grader. Here is a sample sentence:

“If I could do anything, I would go on a date with Justin Bieber. We would go to Golden Corral and we would talk about our deepest feelings and our hobbies.”

Not only did they learn useful vocabulary that their Spanish-speaking students might use, that sentence gave the class a chance to practice the conditional and subjunctive tenses!

826CHI recently received an award from the International Latino Cultural Center of Chicago honoring their work with Spanish-speaking communities at Global Latino Fest in October. The language studies were part of that recognition.

What’s next for Spanish instruction at 826CHI? Benson would love to extend Spanish lessons to their dozen or so interns. Learning Spanish would not only boost their marketable skill set, it would be a way for the non-profit to reward them for their hard work.

We at Multilingual Connections would love our friends and fans to get involved with this cutting-edge group of writers and educators. 826CHI sports an innovative and lively volunteer program populated by creative individuals. “People who volunteer at 826CHI come here as much for the enjoyment as they do to give back,” says Benson. Volunteers can tutor after school, run workshops and field trips, and even just help in the office with administrative support.

Multilingual Connections applauds 826CHI for embracing the challenge of bilingualism in the workplace. We are so proud to share this success story!

If your workplace is looking for language instruction – in Spanish, English, or any of our 18+ languages, contact Multilingual Connections so we can begin designing a custom language learning curriculum for your business.

Filed Under: Chicago, Cultural competency, Spanish, Spanish in the Workplace, Workplace diversity

Creating a safe work environment for Hispanic employees

May 24, 2011 By jillkbishop

Last week I presented a session at the 69th Annual Wisconsin Safety & Health Conference. In the US, there are approximately 50 million Latinos – one in six Americans (and 1 in 4 children!) – and the Hispanic population accounts for over half of US population growth in the last decade. I shared some eye-opening statistics, such as the following:

14 people die every day at work.
The workplace fatality rate among Latinos is 13.5% higher than for US workers overall.
Of the 11,303 Latino workers who died from work-related injuries from 2003-2006, 34% worked in construction.

Why is the fatality rate so much higher among Latinos? For starters, Latino immigrants work in high-risk jobs, such as construction, at a higher rate than the general population. Then there’s the language barrier. Approximately 65% of low-wage immigrant workers are Limited English Proficient (LEP), and not surprisingly, OSHA estimates that over a quarter of workplace injuries are attributable to the language barrier.

But it’s not just language; it’s culture, too. Among Latino immigrants, safety is often viewed through a different lens. Back home, there are far fewer government inspections of work sites, and in the event of a violation, a bribe often makes it go away. Workers may be required to risk their safety, as workers are often perceived is dispensable. Is this in every work site? Of course not. But it’s not uncommon.

In the US, these workers often fear that a complaint about unsafe work conditions or a request for personal protective equipment would cause them to lose their job. And what about reporting workplace injuries? There is the same concern. Moreover, for undocumented workers, a fear of deportation frequently serves as further motivation to quietly self-treat injuries that should be reported and treated. There’s also the perception that safety regulations exist to protect American-born workers, who aren’t as “tough,” as well as the perception that the government doesn’t truly care about immigrant workers and their well-being.

So what can you do to improve the safety of your workplace? Some suggestions:

Ensure that safety materials are reader-friendly and translated into the language(s) of your workforce. But that’s not enough: lower levels of literacy mean that you need to be sure to then train people – in their language – to ensure that these procedures and policies are understood. This can be done by hiring an interpreter or by using a bilingual supervisor.
Consider offering job-specific English as a Second Language training. This will help improve safety, productivity and engagement, and it will also help increase your pool of internal promotion candidates.
Consider offering job-specific Spanish training (as well as other languages of your workplace). With a focus on safety expressions and other key vocabulary, your managers will significantly increase their communication skills while at the same time developing your employees’ trust.

Workplace safety is too important to cut corners. Don’t let things get lost in translation!

-Jill Kushner Bishop, PhD

Filed Under: Employment, English in the Workplace, Immigrant workforce, Latino Culture, Safety, Spanish in the Workplace, Workplace diversity

Learning the Language : Targeting the Market Means Getting Comfortable with Spanish

December 10, 2010 By admin

With more than 45 million Latinos in the United States and the Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasting the ethnic group to account for 30% of the population by 2050, Latinos are now the fastest-growing segment of the population. Restaurants are now targeting the Latino population with Spanish-language signage, marketing campaigns, translated menus and other strategies.

Filed Under: Business, Cultural competency, Employment, Spanish in the Workplace, Workplace diversity

Koreans and Hispanics in Chicago learn to co-exist

June 2, 2010 By admin

Many Korean immigrants have recently found themselves in the Korean American Resource and Cultural Center taking classes in—what else?—Spanish. People like Sue Choe, who owns a laundromat in Koreatown, see many reasons to learn the language that many of her customers speak.

Aware of an ugly history between Korean-Americans and African-Americans–one that erupted into violence in some cities in the 1990s–Korean business owners are trying to soothe mutual suspicions with Spanish-speaking workers and customers. The effort is mostly born of an increasingly interdependent employer-employee relationship.

It is just one of the ways in which new waves of immigration and intermigration between neighborhoods is fast changing the city, mixing new combinations of ethnic groups together and forcing them to search for ways to coexist as so many previous generations of immigrants did.

Beginning a community dialogue is important, especially recalling the 1992 race riots in Los Angeles. It’s also important because Koreans and Hispanics don’t just live in the same communities, they work together too. Hispanics have become the primary labor pool for Korean business owners, and cultural differences have erupted in the workplace.

Latino workers, many earning less than the minimum wage, complain that their Korean bosses neglect to pay overtime and are often callous about days off or job-related injuries.

In turn Korean owners, at times unfamiliar with U.S. labor laws, see ingratitude and disloyalty in their employees’ complaints. They argue that their up-from-the-ground businesses are a team effort that also has the owners working long hours.

Disputes have hurt both sides. Learning to understand the cultures around you (and their languages) is a great start. Read the full Chicago Tribune article about this issue here.

Want to learn the languages spoken in your neighborhood? Visit MultilingualChicago.com to learn about language classes and workshops in your area!

Filed Under: Business, Chicago, Cultural competency, Demographics, Education, Employment, Immigrant workforce, Spanish in the Workplace, Workplace diversity

Hotel owner makes Hispanic employees ‘shorten’ Spanish names

October 12, 2009 By admin

A hotel owner in Taos, Texas recently asked that all his Hispanic employees “shorten” their names to something a little more “American.” According to an article posted by Asylum, the new boss mandated the following upon his takeover:

1. No speaking Spanish in front of the boss.
2. Everyone’s fired and has to re-apply for their jobs.
3. It’s “strongly suggested” that employees shorten their long, silly Spanish names. (“Who has the time to say ‘Marcos?’ Why not Mark or Bill?” That’s actually a real example.)

Roberto Ruiz of the San Antonio Public Policy Examiner sees this as a strong case against America’s declaration as of late that we live in a “post-racial” society. He also points out that Hispanics make up the majority population in Taos.

It usually comes as a surprise to people when I mention that our republic does not have an “official language.” Wisely, this nation’s founders decided not to declare an official language, their reasons included “a belief in tolerance for linguistic diversity within the population, the economic and social value of foreign language knowledge and citizenry, and a desire not to restrict the linguistic and cultural freedom of those living in the new country.”

In a previous blog post, “What’s in a Hispanic name,” we’ve looked at the Hispanic naming system and how it is often confused in the United States, resulting in a loss of culture and identity for many Hispanic Americans (click here to go to the post).

Read Ruiz’s full column here.

Filed Under: Cultural competency, Demographics, Employment, Immigrant workforce, Immigration in the US, Latino Culture, Spanish in the Workplace, Workplace diversity

Child migrant workers growing in numbers

October 8, 2009 By admin

More than 400,000 children work on farms nationwide, making up about 20% of the U.S. farm workforce. The Association of Farmworker Opportunity Program wants to put a end the exploitation of migrant child workers. Their first stop: North Carolina.

The Children in the Fields campaign is working to build grassroots support in North Carolina and four other key states to combat the exploitation of U.S farm worker children.

“This state (North Carolina) has thousands of migrants in the fields and is an area with a lot of agricultural activity, where the problem of children working in dangerous conditions is very large and growing,” [regional coordinator Emily] Drakage told EFE Thursday.

Children are permitted to accompany their parents in the fields at the age of 12, and by the age of 14 can work hours that do not interfere with the school day. No child under the age of 16 can perform any “dangerous” activities, as defined by the Department of Labor.

However, kids as young as 6-years-old have been found laboring in the fields for 12 hours a day, around plants “treated with pesticides, in extreme weather conditions and surrounded by machinery with sharp blades.”

In addition to the dangerous conditions, migrant worker children also face linguistic barriers due to missing school and educational growth.

Read more about this issue in the Latin American Herald Tribune article.

Filed Under: Immigrant workforce, Safety, Spanish in the Workplace

Labor statistics say Hispanic workplace deaths are down

September 4, 2009 By admin

CNN The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a 17% drop in Hispanic fatalities between 2008 and the year before, from 937 to 774 deaths. CNN reports:

Since records began being collected in 1992, statistics have shown that Hispanic workers are killed in the workplace at a higher rate than other ethnic or racial groups.

In 2001, the disparity was the most striking. Hispanics suffered fatal injuries at a rate of 6 out of 100,000 workers that year, while the rates for white and black workers were 4.2 and 3.8, respectively.

The statistics released Thursday show the gap is closing.

The gap may be closing somewhat, but the drop is probably related more to the poor economy and lack of work than an improvement in conditions. “I think we will see an increase when activity picks up,” said Teresa Molina, president of the board of directors of Sunflower Community Action in Wichita, Kansas.

Lack of understanding safety issues because of the language barrier, as well as exploitation (workers not being provided proper safety tools, and being overworked) are factors that contribute to the disproportionate rates of injuries and fatalities of Hispanics on the job.

Click here to read the full CNN article.

Filed Under: Immigrant workforce, Safety, Spanish in the Workplace, Workplace diversity Tagged With: hispanic deaths in the workplace

Lack of safety training keeps Hispanic construction workers dangerously out of the loop

June 29, 2009 By admin

A recent construction fatality caught the attention of the U.S. Hispanic Contractors Association. Worker Fontino Cortes Cruz lost his life when he was struck on a highway by a speeding motorist, who then fled the scene. Unfortunately, this happens all too often.

Construction comes in second behind mining as the most dangerous career: an average of 3.3 people, 2.4 of whom are Hispanic, die every day in construction (and often highway) related accidents.

Research gathered by the association reports that Hispanic workers account for 55 percent of the construction workforce in Texas. Fuentes said research gathered by The Bureau of Labor Statistics states foreign-born Hispanics account for 76 percent of all Hispanic construction workers and account for 66 percent of federal injuries.

Despite these numbers, OSHA has not adequately provided safety guidelines in Spanish, Fuentes said, even after former President Bush passed legislation in his first term that required building codes to be translated.

These startling numbers are a testament to the importance of all workers, especially non-English speakers, understanding safety guidelines of their workplace, whether on the highway or in a skyscraper. The association offers OSHA training courses to construction workers, whose goal is to educate construction workers in their native language.

Workforce Language Services also offers construction safety training in Spanish and English.

To read the full article, click here.

Filed Under: Immigrant workforce, Safety, Spanish in the Workplace

Bus Drivers in Louisiana Learn Spanish

April 2, 2009 By jillkbishop

Though only 3% of Baton Rouge children are Hispanic, that’s almost double the pre-Katrina percentage. School bus drivers are responding to the language barrier by taking Spanish classes so they can communicate with children and their parents.

While many of the drivers spoken about in an online Louisiana periodical are pleased that learning Spanish opens their horizons, they’ve got the immediate gratification of being able to communicate their message to their small riders.

Both said they are excited to learn how to speak some Spanish as a way to broaden their overall knowledge, but their immediate concern is about trying to communicate with their often unruly student riders. Lee rattled off the Spanish phrases she wants to know right away.

“Sit down, sit down right now,” Lee said, laughing. “Be quiet. I’m calling your parents. Put that down there. This is my last warning.”

To read the entire article, click here.

Filed Under: Cultural competency, Demographics, Education, Immigration in the US, Latino Culture, Spanish in the Workplace