As Hispanic workers make up an increasing number of clients, customers and potential hires, employers are reaching out to this demographic group as a matter of business survival. The Latino population will help lead the economy going forward. Companies are starting to pay attention, which is good. But the shift is also bringing challenges. More workers are claiming they've been discriminated against by being forced to speak only English on the job, federal officials say, and many of those allegations come from Hispanic employees.
Many Hispanic employees lack health benefits or retirement pensions.
But some hope employers' efforts to reach this demographic group will create more opportunity. The company also advertises in Hispanic publications and uses online Hispanic job boards. It also has translated employment and benefit information into Spanish. The University of North Carolina Health Care System at Chapel Hill, N.C., has brought in Spanish interpreters at its new-employee orientations and printed part of its job application information in Spanish. It also has had English classes for Hispanic workers.