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HISPANIC NETWORK MAGAZINE www.hnmagazine.com
DIVERSITY & INCLUSION
About the U.S. Hispanic Population
Hispanics and Latinos are the second- largest minority group. They account for close to 17 percent of the national population. According to the Utah Department of Health, between 2000 and 2010, this population expe- rienced a 78 percent growth rate. For context, what does the term Hispanic mean? According to the Utah Department of Health, Hispanic or Latino is a category that includes anyone who traces ancestry to Latin America, Spain or Spanish culture or ori- gin. About 40 percent of Hispanics/Latinos are foreign-born. Hispanics/Latinos are much more likely than any other cultural group to speak their native language in the home.
The Power of Hispanic Inclusion in the Workplace
By Gabriela Benitez
Furthermore, to understand your Hispanic workforce, you need to understand their background and where they are coming from. Almost all of the Latino countries your employees come from work in a universal healthcare system - where healthcare is a government system. That means they are coming to America and are forced to learn a completely different healthcare system.
Hispanic Inclusion in Healthcare
First, understand why they dont want to participate in or pay for something they dont understand. This is why education is so important. Employees need to be educated on what they are getting and why it is beneficial to them. It is easy for things to get lost when you move from a in person system to digital everything. Second, consider getting help from a native Spanish speaker or as a last resort a transla- tor. As a result, this person will make sure employee benefit options are being under- stood in language and cultural context. It is hugely helpful to do customized education with a native Spanish speaker. Here are a few things they can explain to employees: The benefits of having healthcare. They can create a story and give them drastic examples. Highlight the employer contribution towards their premium.
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