| Jane's work crew A really dislikes the next shift's | | | | Cinco de Mayo with Latino employees? If all the |
| crew. She thinks that they are "nasty". The next shift's | | | | employees are from Guatemala or anywhere but |
| crew, B, senses the disapproval and will not cooperate | | | | Mexico, they don't recognize the holiday. As a matter |
| with Jane's crew. What's going on here? | | | | of fact, Cinco de Mayo is only celebrated in a couple |
| John wants his Latino employees to know how much | | | | of Mexican cities. It's a U.S. beer holiday! In this case, |
| they are appreciated and so he puts up a big "Cinco | | | | instead of showing cultural sensitivity, you would show |
| de Mayo" sign to celebrate that holiday. He wonders | | | | cultural illiteracy. |
| why they don't seem to appreciate his effort. | | | | Such small and humorous misunderstandings can be |
| What's wrong in both scenarios? It's NOT "the | | | | big causes for disconnects between employer and |
| economy, stupid". It's the culture. | | | | employee or for discord on the job. The programs, |
| If you have employees from other countries, you are | | | | policies and training that a company develops must |
| dealing with cultural differences! Jane and her A crew | | | | take into account the cultural tendencies of its |
| have a toilet tissue issue. Shift B is comprised of | | | | workforce to be effective. First, the company's Human |
| workers from a country in which toilet tissue cannot | | | | Resources professional should learn as much as |
| be flushed due to small old pipes in most buildings and | | | | possible about the cultural norms of the foreign culture |
| homes. It must be put in a plastic bag in a small | | | | workers and then all management should participate in |
| garbage can. Once the two crews understood that a | | | | workshops to build understanding and bridges. The |
| cultural difference was the issue and Crew B realized | | | | result will be a smoother and more harmonious |
| that they could and should flush, all was well. | | | | workplace - and a more profitable one. "It's the culture, |
| ¡Caramba! So what's wrong with celebrating | | | | Tonto. |