The benefits of workplace literacy programs are many – both personal and professional.
A workplace literacy program can:
- Improve job retention
- Increase quality of work
- Increase morale
- Reduce error rate
- Reduce time-per-task
- Aid in customer retention
- Increase profitability
- Improve health and safety records
Read a letter written by Shay Harrison, Director of Operational Development at Blasch Precision Ceramics, about the profound impact English classes have had on the company and its employees.
The majority of our learners are adults who must work for a living. Unfortunately, employment often becomes a barrier to instruction. Students who work often find it difficult to get to class. However, when our students are hired by local employers such as Blasch Precision Ceramics and Comfortex, their English instruction can continue, thanks to the workplace literacy classes that are now held on site. Students can study English before or after their shift, or during a regularly scheduled break. They have a chance to build vocabulary based on their jobs and their work environment, and to improve their ability to communicate with co-workers and supervisors. Volunteer instructors Connie Gatt, Carol Miller, Mary Krensceski, Joyce Zucker, and Dorothy Russell prepare lessons and travel to meet with students at their place of employment.
Wouldn’t it be great to have literacy programs at all of the local workplaces where employees could benefit from the instruction? It would be good for our refugee and immigrant friends and neighbors; good for local employers; and good for our communities. If you are an employer who would like to start a workplace literacy program, or if you would like to find out how you can help, please call 274-8526.
