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The topic of improving business communication should be top of the priority lists for any business, but when it comes to those employees who have traveled further, the most to work for you, especially those migrant or immigrant employees, it can add an extra layer of complication to proceedings. But when it comes to ensuring that you can help any migrant employees, there are a number of things that will make things easier and more effective for both sides of the equation.
Language and/or Cultural Training
One of the most common challenges any immigrant or migrant employee faces in the workplace is in relation to these two barriers. Effective communication with colleagues, managers, or even customers can contribute to a sense of isolation in and out of the workplace. This is where you can encourage them through an English speaking course, as well as any opportunities to practice their language skills can help them improve their confidence. Additionally, helping them on a cultural level, for example, encouraging them and your business to participate in cultural events, can be an amazing olive branch.
Educate Yourself
Depending on where you are operating, there could be a number of rules and regulations that apply to immigrant or migrant employees. These could include work permits or strict visa requirements and specific programs or benefits, and it’s important to understand the entire framework that governs their rights and obligations. An immigration lawyer will be able to help you gain a better understanding of this, as well as your local immigration agency or a specialist human resources professional. When we educate ourselves, we’re not just covering our backs in a business sense, but we’re going that extra mile for the employee in question.
Prioritize a Safe and Respectful Workplace
It’s something that should be part and parcel of any workplace environment, but an immigrant or migrant employee can find themselves on the receiving end of harassment, hostility, or discrimination because of who they are, which will have a major impact on their well-being, which by proxy will impact performance and retention rates. You are duty-bound to create a working environment where they are treated fairly and equally. We have to prioritize the cultural components, for example, by setting clear expectations for our employees when it comes to respectful behavior. Migrant or immigrant employees may feel that they cannot speak up, and this is an incredibly unfair balance for them.
We are living in a world where the topic of immigration and migration is a hugely contentious issue, and as many people make the move to other countries for a better quality of life, we’ve got to be respectful of the fact that they are, before they’ve even come to our office, undergone a lot of pain, heartache, and red tape. It is pivotal that we help our migrant employees in any way we can, and while there have to be clear rules and regulations embedded into the company, we must prioritize a culture of understanding, empathy, equality, and ultimately progression.
