Deductions from paychecks for taxes are a source of frustration for many employees, but Spanish speakers are particularly inclined to suspect foul play. Very often, they have been raised to be very wary of corruption and “estafas,” or scams, and often it would not surprise them at all to learn that their employer was doing something illegal or unethical.

Furthermore, they are often very much confused as to why it should matter at all to their employer how or where they get their health care. What does this have to do with their employment? Aren't they simply supposed to show up, punch in, and get paid for the time that they work? Why all this fuss about benefits?

A well-intentioned benefits manager who tries to encourage employees to participate, often winds up raising hackles without realizing it. These employees need education about why it is a good business decision for their employer to provide benefits, and to help pay for them. We highly recommend starting by sharing the dollar amount the employer pays toward a given plan and explaining the concept of total compensation, which is often completely foreign to these employees.

Tune in next week for Light Bulb Moment Número 4!

Melissa Burkhart is the founder and president of Futuro Sólido, which provides a wide variety of Spanish language services, including written translation, on-site interpretation, and language instruction. They have successfully served such industries as finance, insurance, landscaping, construction, manufacturing, health care, non-profit, and hospitality. To learn more, visit www.futurosolidousa.com.

Instant Insights /

Light Bulb Moment Número 3: Spanish speakers are often skeptical of having money taken out of paychecks

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