Workplace communication class opens

WOONSOCKET – The Brickle Group, a diverse textile manufacturer based in Woonsocket, partnered with the Rhode Island Core Skills Partnership (CSP) and Rhode Island Regional Adult Learning (RIRAL) to provide its low-level English-speaking employees with a Workplace Communication Class. Brickle, like many local manufacturers and businesses, has a number of employees who have limited English skills.

The Brickle Group contacted RIRAL to explore options about upskilling its employees. RIRAL introduced Brickle’s Management Team to the CSP funding source for onsite incumbent workforce training furnished by the Governor’s Workforce Board’s new Real Pathways Program. The CSP Grant paid for 75 percent of the training. This employer incentive funds onsite classes to improve employees’ core skills; including ELL workplace communication, basic skills through high school equivalency, and basic computer literacy. The Brickle Group, RIRAL and the CSP worked together to create a curriculum that incorporated real life vocabulary and materials from the workplace to optimally improve workplace communication.

Benefits from worksite training include better communication with supervisors, managers, co-workers, customers and clients. Such training often results in reduced turnover and layoffs while increasing safety, productivity and efficiency. Moreover, entry levels employees are upskilled giving rise to boosts in morale and confidence and increased promotion internally.

Another business benefitting from core skills classes for employees and CSP funding is the Dean Hotel in Providence. The Dean is currently running English language classes customized for the needs of housekeeping staff, and is planning a future Spanish language classes for Managers. These services are being provided by Rhode Island Family Literacy Initiative (RIFLI) through the Providence Public Library.

The RI Core Skills Partnership (CSP), a statewide collaboration of Adult Education (AE) providers and employers, serves employers by matching them with AE providers who conduct onsite workplace education with a curriculum that is customized to the employer’s specific needs. The CSP Training Fund covers 75 percent of the cost of services, based on the industry standard of $45/hr. of instruction, while employers commit to 25 percent of the funding.

To learn more about the CSP’s ability to better equip your business and its employees contact the CSP Employer Liaison Kathy Gray at (401) 941-8353 or email kgray@riadulted.org.