Reframing ‘Limited-English Proficiency’ in the Workplace: Moving Past Linguistic Racism to Valuing and Inclusion

Join us for an eye-opening conversation about potentially discriminatory language policies, like English fluency requirements, that would be a barrier to hiring otherwise skilled workers whose First Language is Not English (FLNE).  Participants will gain a better understand of the value and contributions that bilingual/multilingual workers bring to their workplace and, by extension, to businesses’ bottom line.  Participants will also gain insight into how to be culturally respectful and inclusive of bilingual and/or FLNE co-workers so that they can avoid diversity disasters such as microaggressions and harassing conduct.

After this session you will be able to review your current processes to ensure you are creating in inclusive environment for a multilingual workforce.  A 2017 report by the New American Economy (NAE) found that the demand for bilingual workers more than doubled in five years and, as reported by the Congressional Joint Economic Committee in 2021, “the “COVID-19 crisis has brought…