Do you have immigrant co-workers?
Many times, immigrants bring unique experiences and expertise to the workplace. They can add to the workforce diversity, building the company’s global perspective, sales, and service. Some are bilingual, expanding a company’s customer base. Do you have foreign-born co-workers? What do they add to your work environment? Have there been challenges and if so how has your company overcome them?
September 29th, 2007 at 3:38 pm
I have several co-workers who are foreign-born and it has been a great learning experience. I remember the first time I walked into the lunch room and they were speaking in their language and at first I thought they were talking about me, being the new girl and all. I quickly gave myself a reality check. How could I be so arrogant thinking they were talking about me? I soon learned to enjoy hearing the beauty of their language.
October 1st, 2007 at 12:52 pm
We had a moving experience last week at a museum conference that our organization plans. One of the keynote speakers is a Holocaust survivor from Germany. There were two woman from the Iraqi National Museum who attended our conference. Most of the people in attendance were in tears during her final remarks. At the conclusion of her keynote presentation (which ended in a plea for peace), the two women from Iraq (one a Palestinian) came to the stage to hug the speaker and have their photo taken with her. The speaker then conversed briefly with them in Arabic to wish them peace and good luck in their country - it was the highlight of the conference.