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Support for Polish workers |
26th Nov 2007 |
Horticultural
company Banyards has employed so many Polish workers it has decided
to provide translation services for them all.
Agnieszka Komorowska has been employed one day a week to translate common phrases and grammar needed for them to work effectively with their English colleagues.
And she is translating all Banyards' operating manuals, Health & Safety manuals, risk assessments, manual handling, contract of employment - anything that is critical for their safety at work.
Managing director Paul Edwards said: “It's not a case of employing cheap labour - we pay them and treat them the same as anyone else doing the job. It's because the company has grown so steadily, we just can't get enough local English workers for jobs like grounds maintenance.
“It's important they grasp English quickly - and they all seem keen to learn - because all our verbal on-the-job instructions are given in English and safety is paramount.”
Banyards, based at Horton Heath near Verwood, now employs 23 Polish members of staff, plus a Romanian and a Zimbabwean, in its landscaping, tree surgery and grounds maintenance divisions. Many of its Polish workers live locally, but some are so keen to work that they travel in from Southampton daily.
Picture: Agnieszka Komorowska is translating Banyards' work manuals into Polish for its 23 Polish workers.
