Workplace literacy programs are a win for employers working to recruit, retain, and advance employees and a win for English-language learner employees seeking employment and life goals. Employers broaden and strengthen their workforce and employees build their skills.
Why workplace English?
The Brookings Institution reports nearly one in 10 working-age adults in the U.S. has limited English proficiency. English is closely linked to success on the job, not only for the employee, but for the employer as well.
For employees, this results in an increase in on-the-job communication, confidence, job satisfaction, and even responsibilities and promotions. For employers, this means greater productivity, safety, and retention. Through its years of experience partnering with a variety of businesses, Literacy Network has identified four ingredients for a successful workplace English program:
1. Customized curriculum:
Classes are particularly effective when instructors develop a custom curriculum based on English as a second language (ESL) best practices to meet each workplace’s unique needs and industry expertise. One essential component to developing the curriculum is an initial site visit. English instructors must have the opportunity to meet with managers, walk through employees’ daily routines, and learn industry-specific vocabulary to focus on. This allows the instructor to better understand employees’ experiences and the business as a whole so that they can design a curriculum that best meets the site’s unique needs. Workplaces are also asked to provide additional information on priorities and workflow, along with a list of industry-specific vocabulary that workers need to do their job effectively, to be incorporated into lessons. Common curriculum topics include on-the-job safety, understanding policies and procedures, and describing tools and machinery. Workplaces approve curriculum before implementation.
2. Employers identify students:
Participating workplaces are responsible for identifying employees to enroll in class. After recognizing a need for, and interest in, workplace English classes, a workplace must determine which employees participate. Literacy Network follows ESL teaching best practices, which allow for students of all language backgrounds and English levels to participate in programming together. This means students who speak different native languages can be in the same class. Each class can serve up to 18 employees.
3. Offer classes on paid time:
Research shows that offering workplace English classes on paid time is more effective and results in double the attendance. The opportunity to attend classes on the job can recruit new employees and help with retention. Employees see their employers willing to invest in them and their careers. When considering whether workplace English is a fit, businesses should make sure to budget both for the hourly instructor fee for the classes themselves, as well as for the time of participating employees.
4. Persistence pays:
Learning a new language takes time. It takes approximately 100 hours for a student to advance an English level. For the greatest impact for the employer and employee, the employer should offer at least three hours of instruction per week during employees’ regular work hours. Ideally, this will be divided between two 1.5-hour sessions each week, though this can be customized to meet the employer’s need. The most successful programs also commit to at least 100 hours of instruction.
Lasting dividends
For more than 20 years, Literacy Network has partnered with local businesses to provide workplace English classes through curriculum tailored to meet businesses’ needs. During the program’s tenure, Literacy Network has worked with businesses ranging from local manufacturers to area health care providers. So far, three of the organization’s partners have received the statewide award for Outstanding Workplace Literacy Programs. Current Dane County partners include Dane Manufacturing, Electronic Theatre Controls (ETC), Stevens Construction, and the Edgewater Hotel.
Lisa Weberg, personnel manager at ETC, offers testimony to this approach. In August 2023, ETC began talking with Literacy Network about holding on-site ESL classes, and they put a program together in just a few weeks. “We’re now well into our first semester, and getting great feedback on the program,” Weberg notes.
With workplace English classes, both employers and employees gain the resources they need to thrive. As Angie Rojas Agudelo, Dane Manufacturing’s bilingual human resources generalist, explains, “Workplace English classes are a great way to let the employees feel like you’re investing in their learning and their future.”
This modest investment pays dividends by expanding the pool of people considered for employment and advancement.
Robin Ryan is executive director of Literacy Network, which will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2024.
