Posts tagged ‘motivate team members’
According to the EEOC website:
- An employer may not base a decision on an employee’s foreign accent unless the accent materially interferes with job performance.
- A fluency requirement is only permissible if required for the effective performance of the position for which it is imposed.
- English-only rules must be adopted for nondiscriminatory reasons. An English-only rule may be used if it is needed to promote the safe or efficient operation of the employer’s business.
Instead of asking employees to speak English Only, why not offer tools that can help strengthen their English skills, like ESL training. www.englishsolutions.biz
Suit Accuses Hotel at Disney World of ‘English Only’ Policies
October 13 1994, the teamsters union filed civil-rights charges against a Walt Disney World, contending that its “English only” policies discriminated against the hotel’s Hispanic housekeeping and laundry workers.
The hotel knew that many employees spoke no English but offered them a training manual that was printed in English Only. One sentence in Spanish was placed at the end of the job manual, saying that the employee acknowledged receipt of the handbook, and responsibility for the information included.
A spokesman for the Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel said yesterday that it had no “English only” policy.
He acknowledged, however, that the job manual as well as many safety warnings that manufacturers post on hazardous products were in English only.
Many companies use ESL training to avoid these types of controversies.
English as a Second Language (ESL) training could have fully eliminated these complaints.
ESL services include translation of safety material as well as implementation of English classes geared towards improving communication and safety. Many hotels have benefited from this type of training because on- the- job ESL has proven to increase communication, customer service, retention, safety, and morale.
Got ESL? Check out www.englishsolutions.biz
Many companies are now hiring people from different ethnic backgrounds and languages. In result, communication is often difficult for both the employers and the employees.
The employees who are having a hard time communicating clearly in English have difficulty presenting their ideas effectively. Unable to fully participate in the workplace leaves workers who speak limited English feeling depressed and frustrated.
Poor communication can lead to inefficient production. Employers have to take the time to explain and possibly re-explain how things are supposed to be done.
Another problem that employers face is difficulty promoting employees that speak limited English even if employees are highly skilled in other areas. This directly affects company morale and retention. If employees do not receive recognition for their achievements or do not see a clear career pathway for them to move forward, they often leave, or they simply stop caring.
Without ESL training, employers are receiving a negative return on their investment, actually costing them time and money.
Limited English – Motivation= Less Profits
One of the best things that employers can do is incorporate an ESL training program. Ultimately ESL training will improve English communication. Improved communication will enhance company efficiency. Employees will be able to communicate their ideas better, and employers will not have to re-explain their ideas.
ESL training has also been proven to improve employee retention. If employees find a pathway to reach set goals within the company, they are more likely to stay and increase in their overall value for the company.
Promotions will be easier for employers because there will be an increase in the pool of suitable candidates.
With ESL training, employers are receiving higher return for their investment.
More English + Motivation= More Profit
www.englishsolutions.biz is the number 1 recommended resource for workplace ESL.
On October 26, 2009, The Paragon Inn was an unsuccessful hotel that Larry Whitten bought, hoping to turn it around. He thought that in order to improve things, he needed to create some “new rules,” for his majority Hispanic service staff.
Research has proven that by offering English as a Second Language ESL classes/ training, your company will improve, customer service, communication, retention, safety, and morale.
Got ESL? Check out our website at www.englishsolutions.biz
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THE WORKFORCE INVESTMENT ACT OF 1998
Among the key elements of a work force development system, the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) recognizes the need for, “basic literacy as a key element of contribution in the labor force and national life, especially in view of the large number of non-English-speaking adults in the workforce.” (Kaufmann and Wills 1999)
The purpose of WIA is to recognize the need for basic literacy. The training provided must be related to labor market needs and combines literacy education with occupational training (ibid.).
In summary, the WIA suggests employer investment in services designed specifically for work force development that would coincidentally meet the English-language instruction and literacy needs of the LEP population.
In return for employer investment is a better educated workforce, improvement of overall communication, customer service, retention, morale, and safety.
Learn how you can support these programs, and in return improve your business.
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There are 30 states in the United States that have chosen English as the official language either in their state constitutions or by adopting a law. None of those states, prohibits the state government involved from using other languages for common sense, non-official reasons that serve the public interest. Typically those reasons are to protect public health and public safety, promote tourism, teach foreign languages, administer justice, handle emergencies, and similar needs. In fact, there are 53 nations that have made English their official languages, and none of them can accurately be described as “English-only” in the sense that their laws would make it illegal to use other languages under any or all circumstances.
In today’s world, it is plainly an asset and sometimes a necessity to speak a second language, and it is strongly recommended that people learn another language if they can. It is also very important for people who are struggling to preserve their native language and traditions. But to promote the use of English to allow communication, understanding, and empathy between different groups of people who share a common citizenship and territory is not anti-anything. It is false to pretend otherwise.
So why do opponents of official English continue to use “English-only”? Because it is a loaded term that conveys exclusivity and an implied feeling of linguistic superiority. For that reason it is divisive and can be upsetting to people whose native language is not English. Its misuse is intended to provoke an emotional reaction and subtly demonize anyone who favors making English our official language, as well as those who simply want to protect its role as the common language of the United States.
So, if all this is true what does the term “official English” mean? It means that a government has decided that in order for its actions, laws, and business to be considered authoritative, they must be communicated in the English language. It means that there can be no disagreement about which language is the controlling one for discerning the meaning that government intends. And it means that absent a broad, public interest reason for using another language, the default language of government operations is English.
Official English also has a symbolic meaning, which is very important. It sends a message to all those who want to participate as citizens in this great nation, that there are responsibilities as well as benefits for being here. And one of those responsibilities is learning to speak the language of our country–English. There is no reason why our expectations for non-English speaking immigrants today should be less than our expectations for the generations of immigrants that preceded them.
Got ESL? Visit us at http://www.englishsolutions.biz
Though ESL teachers are perceived mainly as educators and linguists, they are also service providers. ESL teachers have a number of fundamental roles in common with front-line customer service trainers in a range of service industries, namely
- participant
- translator
- event organizer
- manager
- trainer
- and resource/ consultant adviser.
They also share a number of essential communicative, interpersonal and reflective/analytical skills. An ESL teacher work is therefore seen to fit comfortably within the dimensions of classical services theory and practice.
ESL teachers as service providers are largely responsible for the generation of functional quality and, create considerable competitive advantage for their firms. The implications are that ESL teacher training and professional development should not be confined to such subjects as pedagogy alone but should also include elements of services theory and practice.
Studies have shown; that customer satisfaction improves as service employee communication skill levels increase.
Among the key skills found to be necessary are active listening and a non-threatening communication style as a key skill for service providers. Further, companies that have established abilities of interpreting nonverbal cues from their customers have the highest levels of sales. Non verbal cues include
- eye contact,
- gesture,
- facial expression
- and posture,
- proactive dialogue, as well as active listening
Research has proven that by offering English as a Second Language ESL classes/ training, your company will improve, customer service, communication, retention, safety, and morale. http://www.englishsolutions.biz
