Empowering Employees, Strengthening Businesses: Our Workplace Literacy Program
Empowering Employees, Strengthening Businesses: Our Workplace Literacy Program
Effective communication is essential in any workplace, and strong literacy skills are the foundation. The Family Resource Center of Sheboygan County’s Workplace Literacy Program offers an accessible and affordable way for businesses to help employees enhance English language and communication skills, benefiting both the workforce and the workplace. By improving skills on the job, employees gain confidence and opportunities for growth, while businesses experience stronger teamwork, higher engagement, and a safer, more efficient environment.
More About the Program
Our Workplace Literacy Program is tailored to meet the unique needs of each of our business partners. Classes are designed for employees aged 18 and up and can be offered onsite or virtually, depending on what works best for the team. Frequency and class structure are flexible. Classes are typically offered once a week, but can be offered more often based on the preferences of the partner, ensuring that instruction fits into the work schedule.
Our Workplace Literacy team collaborates with businesses to develop a curriculum that aligns with workplace goals. Lessons focus on practical, work-related skills including communication, safety, health, workplace culture, and professional development. Class size and content are customized to ensure maximum benefit for employees and relevance for the business. Students who speak any language are welcome to attend classes.
Denise Stueven, Workplace Literacy Program Supervisor, stated, “Our classes bring confidence to employees that is unmeasurable. It has a meaningful impact that goes beyond the workplace.”
Benefits for Employees and Businesses
For Employees:
- Accessible, on-site or virtual classes
- Increased English skills to reach goals
- Enhanced interactions with coworkers and supervisors
- More confidence to engage in the community
- Increased productivity and safety
For Businesses:
- Enhance communication and build rapport
- Clearly communicate safety regulations and skill training
- Reduce turnover and increase retention and productivity
- Provide workers with comprehensive knowledge and ability for constructive feedback
- Identify bilingual associates as mentors and translators
- Reduce and eliminate communication hurdles
- Position your business as a highly competitive and attractive place to work
By integrating literacy instruction into the workplace, employees gain the skills they need to communicate effectively, complete tasks confidently, and engage fully in their roles. At the same time, businesses see the positive impact of a skilled, empowered workforce.
Success in Action
Employees who participate in the program often report feeling more confident and capable, while businesses notice improvements in teamwork, safety, and overall workplace culture. By focusing on real-world skills tied directly to work and professional development, the program creates meaningful, lasting outcomes for both employees and employers.
The Workplace Literacy Program also delivers measurable results for businesses. After one year of English classes held three times per week for 30 minutes, a participating employer saw significant improvements in workplace safety and employee retention:
- Recordable injuries decreased by 67%, dropping from 21 to 7
- Lost workdays due to injuries decreased by 86%, from 56 to 8
- Restricted-duty days from injuries decreased by 94%, from 497 to 31
- Employee turnover was reduced by 34%, decreasing from 59.77% to 35.20%
These outcomes highlight the powerful connection between clear communication, employee confidence, and workplace safety. By investing in language development, businesses not only support their employees’ growth but also create safer, more stable, and more productive work environments.
How to Get Started
Investing in workplace literacy strengthens employees, enriches businesses, and empowers our community. By providing employees with the tools they need to succeed, businesses not only improve productivity but also create a workplace where every individual can thrive.
Businesses interested in offering workplace literacy can begin with a consultation with Denise, dstueven@frc-sc.org. Together, we’ll identify goals, create a customized class plan, and assign a trained instructor to deliver the program.