City Approves Incentive Pay for Bilingual Employees
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Updated: April 17, 2007
Rosemary Davis works as a permit clerk for the city.
Davis speaks both spanish and english and says she`s excited to see the city taking steps to reward bilingual workers.
"I think it`s great, I think it`s been a long time coming. I certainly think we earn it because we do translate on a daily basis. It takes a lot of your time," Davis says.
Bilingual employees will now get $100 extra a month. Mayor Jerre Van Hoose says the bonus is needed as the city`s hispanic population continues to grow.
He says bilingual employees will not have to take proficiency tests because the level of proficiency is different for each city department.
"Because somebody else is doing it, our competitors that want these people with these same skills, certainly are offering some incentive pay and we need to compete for that labor force in the marketplace," Van Hoose says.
He hopes the extra pay will help recruit more bilingual employees, and Davis, who decided not to take another job because of the incentive, couldn`t agree more.
"Sixteen years ago it wasn`t really that necessary, but since the population has grown, yes it`s very necessary."
