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Working With a Hispanic Person |
Some useful answers
to questions about the
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Do you work with Hispanic labor? Have you thought about employing Hispanic labor and would like to know more about the Hispanic work ethic and culture? I am a native of Mexico and have been in the United States since 1991. I received my B.S. in Animal Sciences with emphasis in dairy production from Washington State University in May 2000. I have worked with Hispanic employees in the dairy industry and have helped manage large and small dairies. I am currently an area territory representative for Monsanto Dairy Business. With the help of Lee Gross, extension educator/financial and business management with the University of Minnesota Extension Service, I would like to offer some answers to frequently asked questions to help you understand the Hispanic culture and work ethic. |
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Q:
Do I use the term "Hispanic," "Latino," or "Mexican"
to describe someone? What's the difference?
A: "Hispanic" and "Latino" refer to Spanish-speaking people from Latin America or Spain. "Mexican" refers to a Mexican native. If you are not sure about the nationality of a Spanish-speaking employee, it is preferable to use the term "Hispanic." The term "Latino" is also appropriate, but is not used as often. Use "Mexican" only if you know people are natives of Mexico. My best advice is ASK. You will not offend anyone by asking something like "Would you prefer I refer to you as Mexican, Hispanic, or Latino?" Q: Are the Hispanic culture's holidays different from ours in Minnesota?font> A: Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years are the same. Some Hispanics will adapt to observe the same holidays as Minnesotans. However, most Hispanic employees prefer to take two to four weeks of time off or vacation during December for Christmas to visit relatives. Q: I have heard that family is very important to Hispanics. What should I take into account as I work with Hispanics? A: Keeping close family ties is very important for all cultures. However, Hispanic families like to support each other economically and morally. Most Hispanics come from large families where one house may be the shelter for two or three families, allowing them to develop and maintain close family ties. In the majority of cases, men seek work to support the family while women stay at home and care for the family. Q: Are non-English-speaking Hispanics interested in learning English? A: Yes. Most Hispanics will try to learn English. Sometimes people make the mistake of referring to non-English-speaking people as stupid because they do not speak or understand the language well. If these employees are treated as part of the management team, they will demonstrate how intelligent and creative they are. However, they will only do it if the employer gives them the opportunity. Q: Do I need to learn Spanish? How much Spanish should I know? A: You don't need to learn Spanish, but I would challenge you to ask yourself how successful you want to be in the management of your business. Think of a time when you bought a new computer program for your dairy record management. In order to use it, you needed to learn the computer language, commands, and abbreviations of the program. The same applies to employees. They will be doing the day-to-day work. If the basic communication is not there, you will probably have a difficult time analyzing management and changes that need to be made. Q: Should I be aware of any food preferences of Hispanics? A: Most Hispanics like to keep their traditional eating habits. They prefer spicy foods (but not mixed with sweets), mainly dishes with beans, tortillas, meat, and rice. Employees will traditionally cook their own meals, but will take advantage of days off to take their family to a nice restaurant. Q: Do Hispanics have religious beliefs I should take into account? A: Most Hispanics are Catholic. They have strong beliefs and like to respect others' beliefs as well. Q: Do Hispanic women work outside of the home as frequently as U.S. women? A: No. Typically, the men work to support the family and the women stay home and care for the family. Q: Does the Hispanic culture's work day vary from ours? A: No. Most people will work six days a week, but it will vary depending on the employer and business. Some prefer to take fewer days off and make extra money. Q: Will Hispanics be offended if I ask about their family or culture? A: No. In fact, it will allow them to feel more comfortable and build a better relationship by breaking communication barriers. They will enjoy talking about things other than work-related issues. Q: Will I offend somebody by trying to use Spanish words or phrases? A: No as long as you know what you are trying to say. The best way to learn is by practicing. Hispanics enjoy translating words or phrases from Spanish to English and vice versa. Q: Under what conditions can Hispanics be in this country legally? How can they prove this to me? A: There are different types of work visas. The most common is a permanent residence. Under this type of visa, employees can acquire legal working status through an application submitted by the employer or a relative. An attorney can provide more information on labor and employment law. Q: How would you suggest I learn Spanish? A: If you have access to audiotapes or a computer program, that would be a good way to learn. Also, there is a booklet called "Simplified Dairyman's Spanish," developed by Utah State University, that is available through Monsanto Dairy Business at 800-233-2999. Q: I understand that the level of education and experience can vary a lot from person to person, just like our local folks. Is this true? A: Yes. The level of education will vary from illiterate to college graduates. Most agricultural migrant workers come from poor rural areas where, quite often, they have to quit school to take a job and help contribute to support the family. However, a few manage to graduate from high school or college. |
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