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Employer Success StoriesBusinesses across the country are lauding the strong work ethic and other positive qualities that refugees bring to their workforce. Below are some profiles of companies that have had success integrating refugees into their labor pool.
Minnesota: Goldenflow Studios
Business owner, Dan Mather, saw potential in a recently resettled refugee from the Wat Tham Krabok camp, when he chose to hire him. Through a cold call to Goldenflow Studios, Hmong American Partnership's Eric Bestrom, was able to secure an interview for his candidate. When Dan met Kao, he comments, “I could tell who was visually studying the shop and the processes as I explained them to Eric. It was Kao's curiousness that told me he had an active mind and would make an excellent candidate for training.” Two years later, Kao is able to perform all of the functions needed to create an entire run of glass artworks from start to finish. He's used his background in silversmithing to become a proficient glass blower and all around great teammate at Goldenflow Studios.
Minnesota: Fairview Health Services
Supervisors at four Minneapolis/St. Paul hospitals express enthusiasm about the caliber of employees they have found with newly arrived refugees. Materials Management Supervisor Tim Henry at Fairview Southdale Hospital comments, “[Refugees] are some of the most reliable employees I have. They show initiative, want to be here and any employer would benefit from hiring them because of the attributes they bring to the job. They have a top notch work ethic.”
North Carolina: CabinetCraft
Bill Adams of CabinetCraft says that after building a relationship with Catholic Social Services of Charlotte, he rarely looks beyond their services when he needs to fill open positions. He knows that good employees are just a phone call away. Read more about how refugee workers are easing his recruitment worries and contributing to the company in this article.
Pennsylvania: Cardone Industries
Since 1970 when Cardone began remanufacturing its first automotive part—at that time a windshield wiper—the company has hired as many as 800 former refugees representing 19 different nationalities. Many employees have stayed with the company several years, working their way up the corporate ladder. “The only skill you need to get a job with us is to have a good attitude. We teach you the rest,” Staffing Coordinator Timothy Tran points out.
Maine: Hannaford Groceries
At Hannaford grocery in Portland, Maine, associates increasingly reflect the city’s changing demographics. As Associate Relations Manager Shelly Williams explains, “Refugee associates represent the makeup of our community. It helps us build our business if our associates represent the community, because customers feel more comfortable.”
Texas: NAPCO Precast Limited, Inc.
The owner of San Antonio, Texas-based NAPCO Precast Limited has a long-standing commitment to hiring new Americans. As a former immigrant himself from Colombia, Jamie Iragorri knows first-hand what it feels like to be forced to flee one’s home country and start again in a new nation. Read about how his personal story has helped several refugees and positively benefited his company
New Jersey: C and S Grocers
Employers hear about the benefits of hiring refugees through a variety of sources: A cold call from a job developer. A speaker at a rotary meeting. A friend at church. C&S Wholesale Grocers’ introduction to the country’s refugee labor pool stemmed from a simple conversation shared during a vacation cruise.
Share Your Company's Story
Is your business interested in being featured as a RefugeeWorks success story? Would you like to share best practices and hear about other company's experiences working with refugees. Email us your story at information@refugeeworks.org, or post your experiences on the RefugeeWorks forum! |
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HOW TO HIRE A REFUGEE
To hire a refugee, contact a local refugee employment program near your facility. There are refugee employment programs in almost every major metropolitan area as well as a number of smaller communities across the United States. See our listing of local refugee employment agencies to find a program in your area and begin adding more qualified, committed workers to your company.
Alternatively, contact RefugeeWorks directly and we will help you connect with a refugee program in your area. Email us at information@refugeeworks.org
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