We highly encourage participation in our English as a Second Language programs but we don't push too hard. We've found that the majority of our supervisors are hungry for language instruction. They see it as a way to increase their potential. We provide tuition assistance programs and negotiate hours if employees need to go to community colleges. It can be difficult for employers to design a program to meet all the needs of their corporation.
Resources are available to help employers lower their language barriers, though.
Swedish Hospital and Providence Medical Center are both working with the Service Employees International Union to test federally financed English programs in the workplace. The pilot programs are designed to let employers test the value of on-site ESL programs before committing to them financially. Ann Dwyer and two of her colleagues have created a business out of the growing need for English language instruction in the workplace. We go into a business and meet with employer and employee to discover what really needs to be taught. When you only have a few hours a week for a class, you really need to be focused to accomplish anything.