waltappel 1 #1 July 25, 2005 Makes me wonder about the hiring practices of PD and the citizenship of the PD employees. Walt Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ahegeman 0 #2 July 25, 2005 QuoteMakes me wonder about the hiring practices of PD and the citizenship of the PD employees. Walt Why should it? Plenty of legal immigrants can't speak English well. Things like this are how they learn.--------------------------------------------------------------- There is a fine line between 'hobby' and 'mental illness'. --Dave Barry Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ashtanga 0 #3 July 25, 2005 I work in hotels and our housekeeping department is Spanish. They are all legal and half of them don't speak English. Things like this are typical and this is a great thing that PD is doing for them. Go PD! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ccowden 0 #4 July 25, 2005 QuoteMakes me wonder about the hiring practices of PD and the citizenship of the PD employees. Well, THAT certainly tops the list of ignorant statements! Last I checked, we ALL originated from other countries and ALL had to learn to speak this language. Some of us were blessed to be born here, many come as young people and adults for a better opportunity. I applaud PD and their AMERICAN employees for continually trying to better themselves and for being a company that strives for quality on every level. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
waltappel 1 #5 July 25, 2005 QuoteI work in hotels and our housekeeping department is Spanish. They are all legal and half of them don't speak English. Things like this are typical and this is a great thing that PD is doing for them. Go PD! Really?!!! I am *very* surprised by that. Not slamming it--just seems odd. Walt Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
waltappel 1 #6 July 25, 2005 QuoteQuoteMakes me wonder about the hiring practices of PD and the citizenship of the PD employees. Well, THAT certainly tops the list of ignorant statements! Last I checked, we ALL originated from other countries and ALL had to learn to speak this language. Some of us were blessed to be born here, many come as young people and adults for a better opportunity. I applaud PD and their AMERICAN employees for continually trying to better themselves and for being a company that strives for quality on every level. Sounds like a Speakers' Corner kind of comment from you. Move it there if you want a response. Walt Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kelel01 1 #7 July 25, 2005 Yeah, CHRIS, move it there. I'm not sure why you assume that people who don't speak English must be illegal. Last time I checked, we weren't giving out English classes at the border. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MikeForsythe 0 #8 July 25, 2005 QuoteMakes me wonder about the hiring practices of PD and the citizenship of the PD employees.Yeah, your right, it must be a terrible thing for an employer to have employees that want to learn and for PD to help them.......NOT! Congrats to PD!Time and pressure will always show you who a person really is! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
waltappel 1 #9 July 25, 2005 QuoteQuoteMakes me wonder about the hiring practices of PD and the citizenship of the PD employees. Walt Why should it? Plenty of legal immigrants can't speak English well. Things like this are how they learn. What surprised me is the mental picture of a workplace with a *large percentage* of people who could not speak English. Maybe that's an inaccurate picture--I don't know. Walt Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wildblue 7 #10 July 25, 2005 QuoteQuoteQuoteMakes me wonder about the hiring practices of PD and the citizenship of the PD employees. Walt Why should it? Plenty of legal immigrants can't speak English well. Things like this are how they learn. What surprised me is the mental picture of a workplace with a *large percentage* of people who could not speak English. Maybe that's an inaccurate picture--I don't know. Walt Live in Florida sometime.it's like incest - you're substituting convenience for quality Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ashtanga 0 #11 July 25, 2005 Marriott is actually taking time to not only train the non english speaking employees but also training the management teams to speak Spanish. I would say a majority of housekeeping jobs across the U.S. are held by non english speaking legal residents. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ccowden 0 #12 July 25, 2005 Quote What surprised me is the mental picture of a workplace with a *large percentage* of people who could not speak English. Maybe that's an inaccurate picture--I don't know. Nope, totally accurate. I am very surprised that you, being from Texas, have trouble with a mental picture of a large workplace where a large percentage of the employees don't speak english very well. Is that too "Speaker's Corner?" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jumpwally 0 #13 July 25, 2005 Well,,,,,A large %of the work force is doing manual labor , not selling stocks , bonds !!!! Its not a Law Office..geezz. My folks came from Europe and didn't speak a lick of english, but they're employer had after hours schooling. It worked for them, they busted their ass' and retired wealthy and happy. America is great ! Someone starts a good positive post and you come up with that comment.! I hope your wife makes you sell your rig..........................smile, be nice, enjoy life FB # - 1083 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skymama 37 #14 July 25, 2005 QuoteWhat surprised me is the mental picture of a workplace with a *large percentage* of people who could not speak English. Maybe that's an inaccurate picture--I don't know. You obviously haven't spent a lot of time in Fl. We have a very large population of people here from Spanish speaking countries.She is Da Man, and you better not mess with Da Man, because she will lay some keepdown on you faster than, well, really fast. ~Billvon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kolla 0 #15 July 25, 2005 Hi Walt - to curb your curiosity, all of PD's employees are of the legal & tax paying variety. Quite a few of PD's employees come from other countries - I'm one of those "aliens" (Iceland). Having people from all kinds of nations and races makes PD an exciting and fun place to work at. When I first got here my English was definitely less than perfect but the tireless efforts of co-workers and friends have helped me get a better grasp on it. And by the way, the Donna mentioned in the article is no other than "the Donna of the Maintenance Department" - so quite a few of you might know her :) Blue ones, KollaBlue Skies Magazine Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LouDiamond 1 #16 July 25, 2005 Quotethe mental picture of a workplace with a *large percentage* of people who could not speak English. The inability to speak English does not mean they are unable to comprehend or carry out complex tasks. PD runs a very tight ship. Seeing the factory floor and then thinking about how many canopies they produce, not just for themselves, but other companies as well gives one a good idea of how efficient they are. If having Spanish speaking people working there brings questions to your mind what would it bring to your mind if I mentioned South Africans owning it? I applaud PD for supporting their employees not only at work, but with their lives."It's just skydiving..additional drama is not required" Some people dream about flying, I live my dream SKYMONKEY PUBLISHING Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
waltappel 1 #17 July 25, 2005 QuoteHi Walt - to curb your curiosity, all of PD's employees are of the legal & tax paying variety. Quite a few of PD's employees come from other countries - I'm one of those "aliens" (Iceland). Having people from all kinds of nations and races makes PD an exciting and fun place to work at. When I first got here my English was definitely less than perfect but the tireless efforts of co-workers and friends have helped me get a better grasp on it. And by the way, the Donna mentioned in the article is no other than "the Donna of the Maintenance Department" - so quite a few of you might know her :) Blue ones, Kolla Thanks for an intelligent and civil response! I've been to a few countries in areas where NOBODY speaks any English whatsoever, so it's pretty clear to me that not being able to speak the local language in an area where I live would be an *extreme* handicap. If I were to move to another country, and were doing so on a non-emergency basis, I would make it a *very* high priority to learn the language *before* I went there. I personally make it a very high priority to learn something about a country's language and culture before I visit the country. I import goods from Turkey and visited that country twice last year. There is no shortage of people who speak English in that country, but I don't think that relieves me of the responsibility of learning about their culture and language. If I moved to another country and did not start learning the language BEFORE I went, what kind of reflection would that be on me? Personally, I would consider that to be very arrogant on my part. I would consider it to be the very height of American arrogance if, in a situation like that, I tried to put the burden of my learning on an employer, who had been generous enough to hire me even though I didn't speak the language. Am I the only one who feels this way?!!! So back to why it seems odd to me. I long ago learned that most people don't think exactly like I do, but I have travelled a bit and think that MOST people would start learning the language before moving to another country. Picturing a workplace with a large percentage of people who don't makes no sense to me. Am I missing something here? Walt Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
waltappel 1 #18 July 25, 2005 QuoteQuoteMakes me wonder about the hiring practices of PD and the citizenship of the PD employees. Well, THAT certainly tops the list of ignorant statements! Last I checked, we ALL originated from other countries and ALL had to learn to speak this language. Some of us were blessed to be born here, many come as young people and adults for a better opportunity. I applaud PD and their AMERICAN employees for continually trying to better themselves and for being a company that strives for quality on every level. Please cut the "Holier than Thou" attitude. Here is where I'm coming from: clicky Walt Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ccowden 0 #19 July 25, 2005 QuoteAm I missing something here? You sure are. The fact that YOU have the ability to learn a new language becuase of being in America and having access to learning tools and teachers. Many who come from poor countries in search of a better quality of life in America do not have access to such things. They must first come to America, gain employment, then work on learning a new language and lifestyle. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
waltappel 1 #20 July 25, 2005 QuoteYeah, CHRIS, move it there. I'm not sure why you assume that people who don't speak English must be illegal. Last time I checked, we weren't giving out English classes at the border. Sorry 'bout not giving you an individual response. You do deserve one, but I'm getting a bit overwhelmed with responses, so here is a link to where I am coming from. clicky Walt Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kelel01 1 #21 July 25, 2005 Thanks, Chris. I was trying to figure out how to express that. My thoughts exactly (and more eloquently). Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
waltappel 1 #22 July 25, 2005 QuoteQuoteAm I missing something here? You sure are. The fact that YOU have the ability to learn a new language becuase of being in America and having access to learning tools and teachers. Many who come from Poor countries in search of a better quality of life in America do not have access to such things. They must first come to America, gain employment, then work on learning a new language and lifestyle. I have a very high regard for people who speak English as a second language because it is a very awkward language IMO. That being said, I have not been to any country, including Mexico, where it is impossible to find some sort of resource to learn English. Have you? Walt Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Amanduh 0 #23 July 25, 2005 QuoteI'm one of those "aliens" (Iceland). Having people from all kinds of nations and races makes PD an exciting and fun place to work at. I dont think I could work for PD with all of those "aliens" ...I find the damn accents way too sexy that I think i would have a problem getting any work done! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Newbie 0 #24 July 25, 2005 Well, you assume that everyone knows they will be working there for a longer-than-short-term period, and has the necessary means - financial or otherwise - to begin learning a foreign language and culture, when that's not something high on the list of what the company wants from them (i would assume sewing and textiles skills in this instance). "Skydiving is a door" Happythoughts Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
waltappel 1 #25 July 25, 2005 QuoteQuoteMakes me wonder about the hiring practices of PD and the citizenship of the PD employees.Yeah, your right, it must be a terrible thing for an employer to have employees that want to learn and for PD to help them.......NOT! Congrats to PD! I aplogize for not giving you an individual response, but here is a link: clicky Walt Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
