Providing Resources and Building Connections With Your Latino Crew Members

RCS Influencer Mandy McIntyre says that it's important to build connections with your Latino crew members.

Editor’s note: The following is a transcript of a conversation between RCS Multimedia Manager Megan Ellsworth and Level Up Consultants Owner Mandy McIntyre. 

Megan Ellsworth: Hello everyone. My name is Megan Ellsworth at RoofersCoffeeShop here, back again with an influencer interview. And I am with Mandy McIntyre. Hi Mandy.

Mandy McIntyre: Hi Megan.

Megan Ellsworth: I'm really excited to hear what you have to say about this month's topic, which is all about Latino culture. And the question is, how should contractors be growing a strong inclusive culture, including training in Spanish? So take it away, Mandy.

Mandy McIntyre: Yeah, I love this topic because obviously our Hispanic workforce is very predominant in the roofing industry. And I think that oftentimes company owners, leaders, managers forget the human element of the roofing machine, which is people. And when we're dealing with Hispanic, Latino workforce, it's a whole different culture, obviously a whole different language. And if you want buy-in from your employees, no matter who they are, you have to build those connections with them. And you have to show appreciation and understanding. And with the Hispanic workforce and culture, that's offering things in their language, honoring and celebrating their culture as far as holidays and food even. If you think about a lunch and learn, are you having food that appeals to them? But I think the biggest thing is really understanding the hardships and barriers that they face that a majority of business owners have never had to face unless you are Hispanic.

Megan Ellsworth: Absolutely. That's so so true. What would you say is another way that owners, managers could help include Spanish training maybe in the field?

Mandy McIntyre: Well, I think obviously having training available in their language is the biggest thing.

Megan Ellsworth: Exactly.

Mandy McIntyre: And yeah, I know obviously not everyone speaks Spanish, but I feel like even just making an attempt with certain words and making sure that every document you have is also translated in Spanish for them, and then finding someone who is bilingual who knows roofing and can demonstrate and explain what you're trying to tell your employees is crucial. I know that there's different distributors and manufacturers that are providing resources in Spanish. The NRCA is providing resources in Spanish and to make sure that you utilize all that is out there because there's a lot out there.

Megan Ellsworth: That's so true. And for everyone listening or reading this, RoofersCoffeeShop also has a complete Spanish. You can translate the whole website into Spanish if you need to. So you can always send your employees to us as well. This has been great. Mandy, anything else you'd like to add?

Mandy McIntyre: Yes. So I was just at Roofing Day in DC and one of the platforms that we were there to advocate for was talking about immigration reform and how that impacts and affects our business. So I think it's important for business owners to understand that our Hispanic workforce is facing challenges that affects their family life, that affects their where they live, if they can stay here. So getting involved in those political issues is vital to the industry as a whole. And also letting your employees know that, hey, we're with you on this. We want to help get some reform together so that you don't have to live in fear so that you can stay above the radar so you don't have to go and work for another company and get paid under the table because all of your paperwork and whatnot is in limbo or in the process of being reinstated. And it's a big problem and a big barrier for our workforce that we need to address as a whole, especially business owners as a company.

Megan Ellsworth: Yeah, exactly. Well said. Well, thank you so much for chatting with me this month. And we'll be chatting more in May in the coming summer months. So thank you.

Mandy McIntyre: Thank you.