| The United States has always been a country | | | | with local emergency officials or simply cleaning up a |
| attractive to immigrants, which means we have | | | | harmless spill. |
| workers whose first language is something other | | | | In most communities with non-English-speaking |
| than English. Across the country, we have jobs which | | | | populations, the school systems offer |
| are often filled by workers whose first language is | | | | English-as-a-second-language (ESL) classes for adults, |
| Spanish, Creole, Portuguese, Vietnamese or even | | | | often for free or at a nominal charge. But many |
| Russian. Savvy employers are tapping into this rich | | | | workers can't take advantage of classes held in |
| segment of the labor pool, and then strengthening | | | | schools, so educators are encouraging employers |
| the value of those employees by helping them learn | | | | with enough potential students to hold the classes at |
| English with classes held at the work site. | | | | the work site, either during or after business hours. |
| Advantages of having employees with improved | | | | Most adult education programs require between 15 |
| language skills include: | | | | and 20 students in each class. Work site classes may |
| • Increased confidence and ability to interact with | | | | mean assisting employees who carpool with |
| others, including coworkers and customers. As | | | | transportation, but that's far better in the long run |
| workers learn the dominant language of the | | | | than continuing to struggle with language-related |
| organization, they can do more and can advance in | | | | communication problems. |
| the company, which increases loyalty and reduces | | | | Check with your local school board or adult education |
| turnover. As those workers move up, they can | | | | agency for details on programs that may be available |
| mentor the junior or less experienced workers who | | | | in your area. Many workplace ESL programs can be |
| share the same first language. | | | | customized to meet the needs of specific industries |
| • Fewer errors and reduced overtime. Workers | | | | or particular business goals. |
| who understand instructions don't make as many | | | | Proactively supporting your non-English-speaking |
| mistakes, which means they don't need to spend | | | | workers has an additional benefit of broadening your |
| time correcting them. | | | | company's potential customer base. When workers |
| • Safety issues. Being able to speak and read | | | | belonging to particular ethnic groups feel a strong |
| English increases the comprehension of safety-related | | | | sense of loyalty to their employer, they will share |
| instructions and warnings, which can reduce | | | | that attitude with members of their community, who |
| workplace accidents. And if an accident does occur, | | | | may be likely to become customers of the company. |
| being fluent in English makes it easier for employees | | | | That means offering ESL classes at work can be a |
| to deal with the situation, whether it's coordinating | | | | marketing tool. |