8 Chapter 8: HIRING FOREIGN WORKERS
HIRING FOREIGN WORKERS
The importance of Spanish language proficiency cannot be stressed enough, especially for businesses in the United States that are actively recruiting Spanish-speaking immigrants. During the hiring process, clear communication is crucial in addressing important aspects such as visas, job responsibilities, payments, health insurance, and more. By effectively communicating in Spanish, potential employees can fully understand the terms of their employment, which facilitates a smoother onboarding process. It is especially important when navigating the complexities of visa applications, ensuring that all legal requirements are met and understood. Discussing job duties, payment structures, and benefits in the language that employees are most comfortable with promotes transparency and helps to establish a positive work environment. Furthermore, discussing health insurance options and other essential benefits in Spanish ensures that employees can make informed decisions regarding their well-being. Overall, the ability to communicate in Spanish during the hiring process is integral to building trust, ensuring compliance, and promoting a harmonious workplace for Spanish-speaking immigrants across a range of industries.
What to Find in This Chapter:
Introduction to “HIRING FOREIGN WORKERS” Chapter:
Vocabulary Activities:
- Matching English terms with Spanish translations related to business and immigration.
- Understanding the U.S. foreign worker hiring process through matching terms and real-life applications.
Communication Activities:
- Role-play simulating a job interview for a cleaning service.
- Role-play for remote call center training, emphasizing language proficiency.
Translation Challenge:
- Translate a complaint letter and discuss the ethical and practical implications of immigrant work.
- Discussion on translation challenges and the importance of accuracy in legal contexts.
1. Vocabulary Matching Activity: Business and Immigration Terms
This customer guide provides a detailed overview of hiring foreign labor in the U.S., emphasizing the complexity of immigration laws and the need for specialist consultation. Employers facing a shortage of U.S. workers can file Form I-129 to initiate the process for nonimmigrant visa categories, including E, H, L, O, P, Q, R, and TN visas. The guide outlines post-filing procedures, such as receipt issuance, potential evidence requests, and the option for expedited processing. It also covers the duration of stay, extensions, and portability for employees under different visa classifications. The guide highlights employer responsibilities, including compliance with immigration laws and liabilities in termination cases. Employers are directed to USCIS’s website or customer service for specific visa details and processes. The guide concludes by referencing other government services and resources for additional assistance.
Instructions:
Match each term in English with its corresponding Spanish translation. Be sure to consider the context and specific meanings within the context of professional and immigration.
U.S. law | Visa basada en empleo |
Government regulations | Trabajador no inmigrante |
Form I-129 | Certificación temporal de empleo |
Nonimmigrant Worker | Servicio de procesamiento rápido |
USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) | Certificación laboral |
Immigration law | Estatus de residente permanente |
Foreign labor | E-2 (Inversionistas bajo tratado) |
Employment-based visa | P-3 (Extranjeros que actúan, enseñan o entrenan bajo un programa culturalmente único) |
Labor Condition Application | Traslados intraempresariales – ejecutivos, gerentes |
Temporary Employment Certification | Trabajadores temporales |
Nonimmigrant visa categories | Certificación laboral |
E-1 (Treaty traders) | Termination del empleo |
E-2 (Treaty investors) | P-1 (Atletas o artistas internacionalmente reconocidos) |
E-3 (Australian specialty occupation workers) | J-1 (Ciertos visitantes de intercambio) |
H-1B (Specialty occupations) | P-4 (Personal esencial de apoyo para P-1, P-2 y P-3) |
H-1B1 (Specialty occupations for Singapore and Chile nationals) | E-3 (Trabajadores especializados australianos) |
H-2A (Temporary agricultural workers) | H-2B (Trabajadores temporales) |
H-2B (Temporary workers) | Formulario I-129 |
H-3 (Trainees or special education exchange visitors) | Transporte de regreso |
I (Representatives of information media) | H-1B (Ocupaciones especializadas) |
J-1 (Certain exchange visitors) | I (Representantes de medios de información) |
L-1A (Intra-company transferees – executives, managers) | R-1 (Trabajadores religiosos) |
L-1B (Intra-company transferees – employees with specialized knowledge) | H-1B1 (Ocupaciones especializadas para ciudadanos de Singapur y Chile) |
O-1 (Foreign nationals with extraordinary ability) | TN (Profesionales canadienses o mexicanos bajo el TLCAN) |
O-2 (Essential support personnel for O-1) | P-2 (Artistas o artistas bajo un programa de intercambio recíproco) |
P-1 (Internationally recognized athletes or entertainers) | H-3 (Aprendices o visitantes de intercambio de educación especial) |
P-2 (Artists or entertainers under a reciprocal exchange program) | Formulario I-94 |
P-3 (Foreign nationals who perform, teach, or coach under a culturally unique program) | Tiempos de procesamiento |
P-4 (Essential support personnel for P-1, P-2, and P-3) | E-1 (Comerciantes bajo tratado) |
Q-1 (International cultural exchange visitors) | O-2 (Personal esencial de apoyo para O-1) |
R-1 (Religious workers) | O-1 (Extranjeros con habilidades extraordinarias) |
TN (Canadian or Mexican professionals under NAFTA) | Trabajadores temporales agrícolas |
Labor Certification | Formulario I-9 (Verificación de elegibilidad de empleo) |
Premium Processing Service | E-1 (Comerciantes bajo tratado) |
Processing times | U.S. Department of State |
Form I-94 | Labor Certification |
Period of stay | Jointly and severally liable |
Extension of stay | Q-1 (Visitantes de intercambio cultural internacional) |
H-1B portability | H-1B portability |
Termination of employment | H-2A (Trabajadores temporales agrícolas) |
Return transportation | Nonimmigrant Worker |
Form I-9 (Employment Eligibility Verification) | Blanket petition |
Permanent resident status | H-1B portability |
Immigrant visa petition | U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services |
Blanket petition | Formulario I-129-S |
Labor Certification | Permanent resident status |
Jointly and severally liable | U.S. law |
Form I-129-S (Nonimmigrant Petition Based on Blanket L Petition) | Government regulations |
U.S. Department of State | Immigration law |
U.S. Department of Labor | Periodo de estadía |
2. Vocabulary Activity Instructions: Understanding U.S. Foreign Worker Hiring Process
2. Communication activities:
1. Cleaning Service Job Interview Role-Play
Participants:
- Student One: The Manager (English speaker)
- Student Two: The Future Employee (Spanish speaker)
- Student Three: The Bilingual Employee (English and Spanish speaker)
Scenario: Student One, the Manager, is conducting a job interview to hire a new employee for their cleaning service business. However, the prospective employee, Student Two, only speaks Spanish. To facilitate communication, Student Three is present as a bilingual employee to translate between English and Spanish.
Role-Play Script:
Manager: (Speaking in English) Hello and welcome. Thank you for coming in for the interview. My name is [Manager’s Name]. Let’s start by discussing the job responsibilities.
Translator: (In Spanish) Hola y bienvenido/a. Gracias por venir a la entrevista. Mi nombre es [Translator’s Name]. Vamos a empezar por hablar de las responsabilidades del trabajo.
Future Employee: (In Spanish) Hola, gracias por la oportunidad. Estoy emocionado/a de aprender más sobre el trabajo.
Translator: (In English) The future employee says, “Hello, thank you for the opportunity. I’m excited to learn more about the job.”
Manager: (In English) Great to hear. The main duties would include cleaning various areas such as offices, restrooms, and common areas. Can you handle those tasks?
Translator: (In Spanish) Las principales responsabilidades incluirían limpiar varias áreas como oficinas, baños y zonas comunes. ¿Puedes encargarte de esas tareas?
Future Employee: (In Spanish) Sí, puedo hacerlo. Tengo experiencia en limpieza.
Translator: (In English) Yes, I can do it. I have experience in cleaning.
Manager: (In English) Excellent. Now, let’s discuss the hours and compensation. The position is for 20 hours per week, and we offer competitive pay along with some benefits.
Translator: (In Spanish) Excelente. Ahora, vamos a hablar sobre las horas y la compensación. El puesto es para 20 horas a la semana y ofrecemos un salario competitivo junto con algunos beneficios.
Future Employee: (In Spanish) ¿Cuál sería el salario?
Translator: (In English) What would be the salary?
Manager: (In English) The salary starts at $15 per hour, with opportunities for raises based on performance.
Translator: (In Spanish) El salario comienza en $15 por hora, con oportunidades de aumentos basados en el desempeño.
Future Employee: (In Spanish) Eso suena bien para mí.
Translator: (In English) That sounds good to me.
Manager: (In English) Perfect. Now, let’s talk about the cleaning supplies. We provide all the necessary equipment and supplies for the job.
Translator: (In Spanish) Perfecto. Ahora, hablemos sobre los suministros de limpieza. Proporcionamos todo el equipo y suministros necesarios para el trabajo.
Future Employee: (In Spanish) ¿Hay algún entrenamiento inicial?
Translator: (In English) Is there any initial training?
Manager: (In English) Yes, we will provide training on the proper use of equipment and cleaning techniques.
Translator: (In Spanish) Sí, proporcionaremos entrenamiento sobre el uso adecuado del equipo y técnicas de limpieza.
Future Employee: (In Spanish) Estoy listo/a para empezar.
Translator: (In English) I’m ready to start.
Manager: (In English) Wonderful! We’re excited to have you join our team. We’ll get everything set up for your first day.
Translator: (In Spanish) ¡Maravilloso! Estamos emocionados de que te unas a nuestro equipo. Prepararemos todo para tu primer día.
Future Employee: (In Spanish) Muchas gracias. ¡Estoy emocionado/a de comenzar a trabajar!
Translator: (In English) Thank you very much. I’m excited to start working!
Manager: (In English) Thank you both. We’ll be in touch soon with the details for your first day.
Translator: (In Spanish) Gracias a ambos. Estaremos en contacto pronto con los detalles para tu primer día.
Role-Play Ends
This role-play allows students to practice communication skills in a multilingual environment while simulating a realistic job interview scenario. It encourages cooperation and understanding between individuals who speak different languages.
2. Remote Call Center Training Role-Play
2 Discussion on Translation:
- After the translation exercise, we will discuss the challenges encountered during the translation process.
- Be prepared to share any difficulties you faced and how you addressed them.
- We will clarify any linguistic nuances or cultural differences between the two languages.
3. Analysis of Ethical and Practical Implications:
- Discuss the ethical and practical implications of the issues raised in your assigned section, considering the perspective of an immigrant worker in the US.
- Focus on workplace safety, fair treatment, and legal rights.
2. Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace
-
Translate the provided English paragraph into Spanish.
In today’s globalized world, diversity and inclusion have become essential components of fostering a thriving and innovative organizational culture. When hiring and working with immigrant employees, it’s crucial to approach the process with empathy, respect, and inclusivity in mind.
To begin with, organizations should actively seek out diverse talent pools that include immigrant individuals. This can be accomplished by partnering with community organizations, attending job fairs targeting immigrants, and utilizing online platforms that connect employers with diverse candidates.
Once hired, immigrant employees should receive comprehensive onboarding and cultural assimilation programs to help them integrate smoothly into the workplace. This includes language training if necessary and cultural sensitivity workshops to foster understanding and respect among colleagues.
Moreover, creating a supportive and inclusive work environment is crucial for immigrant employees to thrive. This involves promoting open communication, celebrating cultural diversity through events and initiatives, and offering opportunities for career advancement based on merit rather than nationality or background.
In addition, organizations should ensure that their policies and practices are inclusive and accommodating to the needs of immigrant employees. This may include offering flexible work arrangements to accommodate cultural or religious observances, providing access to translation services, and offering resources for navigating immigration-related challenges.
Overall, embracing diversity and inclusion in hiring and working with immigrant employees enriches the organizational culture and leads to increased innovation, creativity, and success for the company. By prioritizing these values, organizations can create a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to contribute their unique perspectives and talents.
Discussing Translation Challenges
- Translation Difficulties Discussion: In pairs or small groups, discuss the challenges you encountered while translating the paragraph. Consider intricacies related to legal terms, cultural concepts, and maintaining the original meaning.
- Comparison and Analysis:
- Classmate 1: Review their translation and identify any differences or similarities compared to your own. Note any distinct phrasing or choices they made.
- Classmate 2: Analyze their translation and pinpoint any variations in wording, tone, or structure compared to your translation.
- Classmate 3: Evaluate their translation, focusing on differences or similarities in conveying the original paragraph’s nuances and meaning.
- Classmate 4: Examine their translation, highlighting any unique approaches or word choices that deviate from your version.
3. Sharing Insights
- Group Discussion: Come together as a class and share your observations from comparing the translations. Discuss the intricacies of translating legal and technical terms, adapting cultural context, and maintaining clarity.
- Reflection and Feedback: Reflect on the challenges of translating legal and bureaucratic language. Discuss the importance of conveying accurate information while ensuring the text remains comprehensible for the target audience.