Advertise uniformed and english speaking employees?

[HazellLawnCare]

I am working on some new marketing materials and I was curious if I should include in them that all of my employees are uniformed english speaking employees? Some of the larger companies in my area how a lot of spanish help and the others can have some pretty rough crews.

[richallseasons]

That does not sound like a good idea to me, but its just my opinion.

[Az Gardener]

Most definitely!!

Whenever I get a new client after we have serviced them a few times I make it a point to call them and see if they are happy with our service. They always go on and on about how nice it is to be able to communicate with the crew and that they get what is important to them done as opposed to the endless blowing, the shoulder shrug and the no habla.

Be sure you find a way to get it into your help wanted add too. It will make a big difference in the quality of your applicants.

[ICS]

If that makes you different from your competition then I would try it.

[Mrs. H]

David said that if we were in a larger city he thinks it would be a good idea. Especially, if like ICS said, if it sets you apart.

[Grits]

I would give it a try. It's not like you're saying, "We don't hire Mexicans". You are simply saying that your crew speaks English. Nothing wrong with that.

[grassmanak]

it sounds like a good idea, i know how mad i get when i am trying to talk to someone who doesnt understand you and you cant understand them. but then again, some people might take it as a low blow to others.

[Gatewayuser]

haha bad bad bad idea!!! If you do that you WILL get attention but it will not be the kind you want! We had a guy here that put a sign up about Hispanics and he got sued and put on the news for being a "racist" business owner.

Now on the other hand, yes, advertise that you wear uniforms but come on advertise quality. You should sell your work and service not the fact you employ Americans only.

I wonder if your having to advertise that then its possible you may have some company issues to tend to.

P.S. I don't employ any Hispanics but have 4 employees.

[HazellLawnCare]

Gateway you are out of line bud. I am by no means racist, trust me. I have customers tell me that they love the fact that all of my employees speak english. I never said anything bad about Hispanics did I? I will hire a Hispanic guy IF he can speak english. I don't want anyone on my staff that I personally can't comunicate with.

[Gatewayuser]

Gateway you are out of line bud. I am by no means racist, trust me. I have customers tell me that they love the fact that all of my employees speak english. I never said anything bad about Hispanics did I? I will hire a Hispanic guy IF he can speak english. I don't want anyone on my staff that I personally can't comunicate with.



Ahhh you may not be racist but you WILL come off like that. I'm just telling you my views on it. I have customers tell me the same thing. Just be careful trust me you will be better off not saying that in advertisements.

[HazellLawnCare]

I respect that Gateway and that is exactly why I was asking.

[Gatewayuser]

I respect that Gateway and that is exactly why I was asking.

If you do decide to do that please let us know how it works!

[mattfromNY]

To read this thread in English, press or say '1'.
that stuff on the automated phone system pizzes me off. Hell, yeah I want to hear this in English, get some caller ID, see where I am calling from???????
I'm not racist or prejudist, The farm I help out on hires mexicans and guatamalans, and they are some of the nicest people, well, at least they are always smiling, I dont really know what the hell they are saying, but they get the job done.
Personally, I wouldn't care who you hire, as long as they are LEGAL to work in this country. And they pay taxes and SS, to support my ass when I retire.

[SNAPPER MAN]

All my workers dont speak english but they do their best to try to speak it and the customers appreciate that. They are in my opinion the best workers and people. They are probably the best christians I know and they love their families more than most black or white people. Just because someone can't speak english you should not put them down. English after all is not the official language of the united states, there is no official language.

[HOOLIE]

Just my opinion, but from a customer relations standpoint, really only the crewleader would need to speak English. True, it's great to be able to communicate with all your workers. Like it or not, the reality is in many parts of the country, for our line of work, you need to learn at least SOME Spanish to deal with employees.

[lawnscapesLLC]

Around here it might get you into trouble. A famous cheesesteak place in philly had a sign that read something like--Your in America, please speak English when ordering----and he got into a load of sh** for it.

[KS_Grasscutter]

All my workers dont speak english but they do their best to try to speak it and the customers appreciate that. They are in my opinion the best workers and people. They are probably the best christians I know and they love their families more than most black or white people. Just because someone can't speak english you should not put them down. English after all is not the official language of the united states, there is no official language.

Wait a min... in another post you said you are 14. I call bullshit. There is NO WAY you have employees at 14.

[Grits]

All my workers dont speak english but they do their best to try to speak it and the customers appreciate that. They are in my opinion the best workers and people. They are probably the best christians I know and they love their families more than most black or white people. Just because someone can't speak english you should not put them down. English after all is not the official language of the united states, there is no official language.

Yes it is, friggin' Liberal. I love a good Mexican as much as the next guy. But if any foreign person comes here to live and or work, they need to speak the language.

[bill8379]

My first thought was that it sounded slightly racist. You might offend a lot of people unless the message is a VERY light sell. I'm sure no one from a minority will phone you up, what is that like 30% of the people?

I know lots of the people down there hire Mexicans for cheap labour, your message to them might be "We are More Expensive".

Man, if I advertised we speak English only here in Canada.. all the French would kill me, lol.

[Gatewayuser]

Yes it is, friggin' Liberal. I love a good Mexican as much as the next guy. But if any foreign person comes here to live and or work, they need to speak the language.


Actually America does not have an official language, congress tried to designate it English but the bill failed.

[mattfromNY]

Yes it is, friggin' Liberal. I love a good Mexican as much as the next guy. But if any foreign person comes here to live and or work, they need to speak the language.

AMEN.
Dont make me change my language, I was born and raised here, as was my mother & father. My maternal grandfather came here from Germany, guess what language he spoke? ENGLISH. My paternal grandfather came here from Ireland, guess what language he spoke? ENGLISH. Notice a pattern?
Nice country, welcome. but please try to fit in with the locals a little.

[Military Lawns]

Ahhh you may not be racist but you WILL come off like that. I'm just telling you my views on it. I have customers tell me the same thing. Just be careful trust me you will be better off not saying that in advertisements.

I agree perception in this case is everything. You must keep in mind that Hispanics are an extremely large and tight nit minority group. I believe you just need to be more sensitive while continuing to be creative.

Good concept less the Hispanic overtones.

DJ-

[steve5966]

"My maternal grandfather came here from Germany, guess what language he spoke?"

I'm going to guess he spoke German when he arrived here and then learned English.

"My paternal grandfather came here from Ireland, guess what language he spoke?"

I would hope that someone coming from an English speaking country could speak English.

[Doug1966]

My vote: "uniformed" yes, "english speaking" no. Makes you sound like a racist red neck. Why not put it a different way:
"We hire professional, uniformed staff who are each trained to communicate directly with you to attend to your needs."

[Gatewayuser]

My vote: "uniformed" yes, "english speaking" no. Makes you sound like a racist red neck. Why not put it a different way:
"We hire professional, uniformed staff who are each trained to communicate directly with you to attend to your needs."

Exactly good wording! Focus on professionalism and you will get plenty of star customers.

[lawnman_scott]

"My paternal grandfather came here from Ireland, guess what language he spoke?"

I would hope that someone coming from an English speaking country could speak English.
I was wondering about that myself.

[mattfromNY]

"My maternal grandfather came here from Germany, guess what language he spoke?"

I'm going to guess he spoke German when he arrived here and then learned English.

"My paternal grandfather came here from Ireland, guess what language he spoke?"

I would hope that someone coming from an English speaking country could speak English.

You are right, that is kind of funny. (See, sometimes in our haste to post a response, we overlook little things)
I should have said my Paternal Grandmother came from Poland (which she did) and she spoke english, as well.
My point is more that they LEGALLY came from other countries, spoke the language, attended public schools, etc. They valued their heritage and brought many traditions and such from their 'native' countries, but at least they spoke the language.
Not very often we see an Asian person that doesn't speak english, sure, might have a tough time understanding them, but its still english. Never met a russian, or german or even french-canadian that didn't speak a lick of english.
Dont know- maybe its laziness on the hispanic community they dont learn english?????
Maybe its our own fault for not pushing the issue more????????????
Maybe its just that they are poor, and the asians, russians and french-canadians have better schooling to teach the language?????????
I'll probably get bashed for this, but so be it. :waving:

[bigw]

My vote: "uniformed" yes, "English speaking" no. Makes you sound like a racist red neck. Why not put it a different way:
"We hire professional, uniformed staff who are each trained to communicate directly with you to attend to your needs."

IMHO i think this sounds terrible also "who are each trained to communicate" sounds like ...hey we have a bunch of dummies working for us but don't worry we taught them how to speak just enough.If i was a Mexican and i saw that slogan on your shirt id probably want to rip it off your chest!! To me that's just as bad as what he wanted to advertise in the first place.If you must somehow make it clear that you speak English at least do it with some subtleness. Perhaps "got questions..just ask" or "we hear you" just my opinion do as you want but i think anyone that has to advertise this way needs to find another way because it will not fly with your customer's or employees.

[EgansCountryGardens]

Well I guess this thread should give you your answer..... It's obvious that alot of people here disagree with not putting anything about "English Speaking" in your ad. So that should tell you that at least some of your prospective customers will feel the same way. I on the other hand, believe that I would hire someone that put "English speaking", however I don't think the pros outweigh the cons on this one. I'd play it safe. Good luck.