Good benefit plans and on-the-job training have long been valued by American employees. Many will go so far as to accept a position with a slightly lower salary because the benefit package is so attractive or because opportunities for company-sponsored education are so promising.
Why is it then that Spanish speakers, an enormous — and growing — segment of our work force, are not participating in most benefit plans? Retirement plans and health insurance improve one's quality of life dramatically. Term life insurance and disability plans protect an employee and his or her family against unforeseen tragedies for a very modest monthly cost. Why are these facts — so self-evident to us — not sinking in to our Spanish-speaking employees?
The language barrier is only part of the problem. Benefits professionals and human resource managers can be energetic and conscientious about translating the plans or the training — and still get disappointing results. Few realize that such employees have very strongly-held negative and erroneous beliefs about all of these issues. In order to change employees' thinking and persuade them benefits are, in fact, in their best interest, these beliefs must be addressed and clarified. Some misconceptions include:
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o We can buy any medicine at the pharmacy, so why bother to pay for expensive insurance?
o The death benefit will go directly to my wife's next husband or boyfriend — and who wants to leave money to him?
o Money taken out of an employee's paycheck for retirement plans goes directly into the pocket of the salesperson or plan representative.
Needless to say, none of this could be further from the truth, but very few benefits providers or brokers are directly addressing these points. This is unfortunate for many reasons. Plan providers are missing out on valuable business by failing to reach these potential participants. Business owners are not getting the maximum tax deduction or lowest possible group rate. And finally, the employees themselves are losing opportunities for more prosperous and more secure lives for themselves and their families
Fortunately, these problems can be solved, and forward-thinking benefits professionals are researching ways to increase buy-in to these topics among Spanish-speaking employees. Check back next month or visit at www.futurosolidousa.com for easy-to-implement solutions and strategies for maximizing participation among Spanish speakers in all types of benefit plans.
Melissa Burkhart worked for 10 years as a teacher and school administrator, specializing in cross-cultural education and communication. Ferney Colorado, a native of Colombia, has worked side by side with Spanish-speaking immigrants from all over Latin America in a variety of industries. In 2001, they established Futuro S?lido USA, which provides a wide range of customized Spanish language services and training materials to ensure a solid future for Spanish-speaking workers and their employers. For more information call 303-837-8224 or visit www.futurosolidousa.com.
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