Training in a Multilingual Workforce

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Training in a Multilingual Workforce

• Luis B. Celorio
• Safety Training Director
• E.R. Snell Contractor, Inc.

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The New Reality Construction Work Force Diversity
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This is why bilingual training is important!
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Understanding each other!

• Safety issues
• Productive work force
• Less prone to accidents
• Retention
• Fewer conflicts between workers
• Dialect
• Everyone understands what is expected of each
  other

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Training Program

• Your safety training program must be bilingual.
• If they nod their head while you are talking,
  they probably have no idea as to what you are
  saying.
• A good training program must be interactive.

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Training?
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Training?
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Training?
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Training Program

• Your training program must include all related
  safety and administrative matters.
• Pay rate, time off, holidays, and so forth.
• Translate all manuals and memos so everyone
  understand them.
• Encourage questions.

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Participación!
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Training Program

• 100 Participation
• Single point of contact
• Identify bilingual individuals in each crew
• Internet translator issues
• Results oriented
• Tracked

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Training Quotes!

• Never say I dont need to translate this memo
  because only the foreman will see it.

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• Safety training is not a priority with Hispanic
  workers, they just want money to send home

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• I dont need to ask if they want direct deposit
  since most Hispanics dont have bank accounts
• Most Hispanic workers dont take the health
  insurance benefits

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And,

• Hispanic individuals dont seem to understand
  English until you mess with their pay

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Training

• Avoid the 20 factor!
• Your training program is working (100) when it
  takes you just as long to explain something in
  English as it does in Spanish!

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Finally!

• Individuals must be trained in a language in
  which they understand.
• Get everyone involved in your training efforts.
• Your workers will thank you!

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Thank You!

• Any Questions?