How do I deal with illiterate co-workers?

[MBergman]

We have two new techs at work that are the pride and joy of the dealer management. They happen to be brothers, speak SOME english, and can not read or write in any language. I'll let you guess what language they do speak fluently.



The problem is, they can't tell us what they need parts wise, or tell us what they are working on. Everyone has to do everything for them but install the parts. The managers all agree that the amount of work they do will more than make up for the aggravation and lost time we all incur.



I've tried being tactful and talking to the owner, but my concerns fall on deaf ears. To make matters worse, these guys are getting paid $23 an hour! My boss suggested that the dealership should pay for night school for these guys. I was not amused.



Marc

 

[rmrc]

This is a very sore subject as far as I'm concerned. Years ago, people who wanted to live hear were expected to make an honest effort to learn the language (English). Even is they spoke with a heavy accent or broken English, at least they were sincelely trying. Now,,,,,, we have to bend over backwards for these people and have everything written in their language. If I went to Germany or France to live and work, I would start taking lessons in German or French!



B**L S*%T!!!!!! I would keep myself busy with my own work and let them fend for themselves. Let their work backup! That's the only way management will get envolved. The s^&t has to hit the fan for your bosses to take a second look. No offence to these two brothers but if they are really sincere regarding their desire to work at your place of business, they'll enroll in some class to learn English.

 

[tractorface]

Take it easy on these guys. Before you boot them out of the country find out what thier sisters look like :-laf I'll bet if they don't learn how to communicate effectively management will fall out of love real quick. People are people, give em a chance, if they don't work out run em out of town just like anyone else. I had to work in Mexico city for a couple of weeks and tried to learn Spanish but found out I wasted my time. Luckily for me I ran into some people willing to overlook my problem. If I was a single man I would have moved as oppurtunities for "technical" people are abundant, plus I could have lived like a King on the money I have saved over thge years :-laf

 

[fox]

How did they fill out an application??????

Who chose to set the pay that high for that qualification. ???

Learn some ' other language' and demand a raise!!!!!!!!!!

 

[J Shocik]

From rmrc

I would keep myself busy with my own work and let them fend for themselves. Let their work backup!

Marc, I agree with this completely. By doing their work, you're taking away from your production, making them look better than they are, and making yourself look bad because you're trying to be a nice guy. Let them fend for thenselves. When management sees what they have, then they'll be forced to do something about it one way or the other. When in Rome, do as the Romans do, and they speak Roman, not "some other language".



I went through something like this a few yrs ago and this is what I told my boss. I'm NOT getting paid to babysit this guy. They wouldn't pay me average to train him, and I wouldn't show him anything. Everyone got the message when he was just standing around doing nothing. Granted you'll probably come out the bad guy at first, but your co-workers will thank you later. Mine did for standing up for myself.

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

OSHA ONLY RECOGNIZES ONE LANGUAGE!!

Remember that.



I sat thru 40 hours 3 years ago of Osha training and what used to be an english only standard has now been "adjusted"



For starters MSDS boks and sheets HAD TO BE be in english. If they cannot read english then an unsafe work environment exists. . . . Comprende? Machinery labels , warning signs , designated areas and safety zones now must be multi-lingual. We follow California's stringent guidelines and they fall under the MUST rule.



Man our company is H O T on this issue with our construction's labor ever changing work force. Safety is an issue country wide . . do your part son :-laf

 

[MBergman]

I have seen the job applications. It looked like a 3rd grader filled it out. I'm guessing it must have been someone else filling them in, because they were both the same.



I'll be sure and point out the safety issues during the next meeting. Much of the safety labeling is in English only, which really doesn't matter much since they can't read in any language.



I'm not planning on being there much longer. Vacation starts this weekend, and several copies of my resume will be dropped off between here and Texas. One of the guys I work with just got back from a week doing the show "Overhaulin'", walked in today saying "this place is like watching a monkey screwing a football".



Marc

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

Much of the safety labeling is in English only, which really doesn't matter much since they can't read in any language.

Marc

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