19 Aug Hotline advice for a small business employer
Greg *, a retail shop employer phoned to ask for help for his young employee. Greg said he had noticed the young man avoided writing tasks. Greg said, “He’s a great worker. I want to keep him but it’s a business and he can’t be doing only half the job”. He was unsure whether to raise this with him and if so, how to go about it.
The Hotline teacher discussed possible approaches to raise the issue. She also sent him our ‘Chat Starters’ which suggest ways of going about a conversation with someone who is having trouble with reading and writing. They are a way of diving into a conversation that could give someone the confidence to accept some help.
The teacher also referred Greg to a qualified adult literacy teacher who could develop a program around the employee’s immediate needs. The employer really wants to support the employee and is prepared to allocate time at work so he can improve his literacy skills.
*Not his real name