Sue,

Could you provide the name of the article you mentioned in your reply?

Thank you,
Diane

At 03:31 PM 4/14/04 -0400, you wrote:

>Hi Annie:

>

>I believe that experience over the last two decades shows that singling 

>out or mandating any or certain employees for workplace education programs 

>is not the way to go. This can create an atmosphere of fear and tension 

>rather than one of opportunity. As you note...it is not a question of job 

>performance. A better way would be to get employees to sign up for the 

>classes voluntarily. Then the classes are seen as an added benefit for 

>individuals rather than something threatening. Often once the initial 

>group of workers sign up, others follow.

>

>I would direct you to a resource on good practice written by Mary Ellen 

>Belfiore for the Ontario Literacy Coalition (OLC) in 2002. In this 

>document, Mary Ellen has consolidated what we know about good practice in 

>workplace education to date. You can download the report from the OLC 

>website at www.on.literacy.ca

>under publications.

>

>Sue Folinsbee

>Hospitality Workers Resource Centre

>Toronto

>

>

>

>

>----- Original Message -----

>From: Walker, Annie

>Sent: 4/14/2004 2:21:18 PM

>To: nifl-workplace at literacy.nifl.gov

>Subject: [NIFL-WORKPLACE] Workplace Incentives

>

> > Listserve Members:

> >

> > We are the literacy program of a small non-profit Community Action Agency.

> > Our Workplace Literacy Program is transitioning to a fee-for-service 

> program

> > after developing the program infrastructure and getting 2 successful pilot

> > business partnerships established. One company who is considering our

> > proposal is trying to figure out how to handle the question of determining

> > who comes to  class.  They want to offer English and Spanish classes and

> > encourage increased communication for everyone and make the classes a part

> > of a Comprehensive Communications Skills package.

> > Their questions are: "How companies who have successfully implemented 

> such a

> > program went about doing it as far as requiring their employees to go 

> to the

> > classes. That is, did they mandate associates attend? How did they 

> determine

> > who should attend? What were the reactions of those employees mandated to

> > attend? Can we mandate some, and not all associates?"  Their dilemma is 

> that

> > most of the employees are successfully performing their jobs, so suddenly

> > making speaking English a requirement to do their job successfully probably

> > won't fly.

> > Does anyone have suggestions from your experience?

> > Could you refer me to any resources that would be helpful?

> > Thank you,

> >

> > Annie Walker,  workplace literacy coordinator

> > Skagit County Community Action Agency

> > 2221B Riverside Dr.

> > Mount Vernon, WA 98273

> > 360-416-7585  ext  157        fax 360-416-7599

> >

> > Community Action Partnership: Helping People.  Changing Lives.

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > Annie Walker,  workplace literacy coordinator

> > Skagit County Community Action Agency

> > 2221B Riverside Dr.

> > Mount Vernon, WA 98273

> > 360-416-7585   fax 360-416-7599

> >

> > Community Action Partnership: Helping People.  Changing Lives.

> >

> >

> > _______________________________________________

> > NIFL-WORKPLACE mailing list

> > NIFL-WORKPLACE at literacy.nifl.gov

> > To unsubscribe or change your subscription settings, please go to

> > http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/nifl-workplace

>

>_______________________________________________

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>To unsubscribe or change your subscription settings, please go to

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Diane P. Gardner
EFF Professional Development and Certification Coordinator
The University of Tennessee
EFF Center for Training and Technical Assistance
Center for Literacy Studies
600 Henley Street, Suite 312
Knoxville, TN 37996-4135
865-974-9949
dgardner at utk.edu