Do understand that English might not be the first language of your migrant workers. They could have further difficulty understanding the kiwi accent. Even people who have grown up speaking English might not understand how we say and do things in New Zealand. So please make sure that communication with migrant workers is kept simple and straightforward.
It’s essential to ensure that your migrant workers understand Workplace communication for their productivity, safety, and wellbeing. Here are some tips:
- Use clear and simple language
- Avoid jargon or slang
- Repeat back what you’ve heard to check for understanding
- Encourage questions
- Check in regularly to ensure they are understanding and keeping up
- Be patient and understand that they may need more time to adjust to communication in the workplace.
Your Communication Should be Adequate
It helps to be polite and clear while communicating so that your migrant workers understand what is expected of them in the workplace. Good communication will also help build trust and respect between you and your employees.
If possible, get someone who speaks the same language as your migrant workers to help with communication in the workplace. This will make it easier for them to understand what is being said and help avoid misunderstandings. However, this should only be done for a while. Further, it would help if you aided your workers in learning English.
Kiwi Language, Informality, and Culture
In New Zealand, we tend to be relatively informal in our everyday interactions. This might be different from what your migrant workers are used to. It’s important to remember that they might not understand Kiwi humor or idioms. So please explain any jokes or cultural references.
Some Examples of Kiwi Culture that your Migrant Workers Might not be Familiar with Include
- Greetings – we often greet each other with a ‘hi’ or ‘hello’ followed by a handshake
- Personal space – people in New Zealand generally have a lot of personal space and might not stand or sit too close to others
- Queuing – people in New Zealand generally queue up or line up for things like buses or at the supermarket
- Food – some everyday Kiwi food items include fish and chips, pavlova, and lamingtons.
- Sport – many New Zealanders are passionate about sport. Typical sports include rugby, netball, and cricket.
As an employer, it’s your responsibility to help your migrant workers understand Workplace communication and the Kiwi way of life. So they will soon be settled into their new workplace and culture with patience and understanding.
Do feel free to connect with experts at NZ Migration Help if you need help with immigration status of your migrant workers. We would be happy to help.