Literacy@Work

Workplace Literacy - Background

Business in the United States is constantly making new and greater demands on its employees. Increasingly, businesses need employees at all levels who can read, write, solve problems, do basic math, possess basic computer skills, and communicate effectively in English with each other and their customers. Companies today are faced with a growing labor pool of low literacy level workers, and the high costs associated with employee turnover.

Low literacy skills can have a profound negative impact on the workplace. Based on a National Adult Literacy Survey (NALS) study, a projected 51% of American adults have difficulties with everyday tasks that involve literacy. Experts estimate that low literacy costs the American economy $225 billion a year in lost productivity. Improved workplace literacy can increase employees' efficiency, effectiveness, and productivity on the job. As a result, employers experience greater customer satisfaction and process improvement, a lower incident of accidents, reduced waste, and fewer errors.

Improved workplace literacy through investing in training of an existing workforce contributes to a smoother running and more profitable business.

Literacy@Work Services

Literacy Chicago’s Literacy@Work provides for Chicago-area businesses consultation, assesses company needs for training, evaluates employee skill levels in order to design customized curricula and instruction that are relevant to the workplace and job performance, delivers instruction, and measures the impact of the training.

Classes meet at the work site for two to three sessions a week in twelve week modules. Curricula are customized and materials are identified to specifically meet the employer's goals within the skill level of the employees. Audio and visual media, and real-life, workplace, and instructor-generated materials are utilized in addition to texts. Real company materials that employees are required to understand and use are incorporated in the curricula. All instructional staff are highly experienced professionals in the field.

Although English oral and written communication or workplace math skills may be the focus, the underlying goals of the company are likely to be met through improved communication, quality of service, productivity, employee self-confidence, workplace safety, and workforce loyalty and morale.

This is a fee-based, contractual program. For more information, please contact John Madigan, Lead ESL Instructor, at Jmadigan@literacychicago.org or 312.870.1100, ext. 116.

Clients - Past and Present

Literacy Chicago's past experience and current competency enable us to provide top quality workplace literacy services. Our ability to consult, assess, customize curricula, and provide professional classroom training ranks consistently high in feedback from our clients and their employees. We have worked with a wide variety of employers, from manufacturing firms to banks to bakeries. Clients include: Maple Leaf Bakery, Alberto-Culver, GATX, Sopraffina Restaurants, and Lemon Scents.

Let's Work Together!

To start a Literacy@Work project at your worksite, please contact John Madigan, Lead ESL Instructor, at Jmadigan@literacychicago.org or 312.870.1100, ext. 116.