Workplace Basics with ESOL Exercises: Student Book is the first book in DTR Inc.'s series for classroom work readiness and customer service training for ESOL programs. The work readiness topics, worksheets ) and exercises in this edition of the book are exactly the same as in the non-ESOL version of the book. Employers do not have different workplace expectations or requirements for employees enrolled in (or who graduated from) ESOL programs. In addition, ESOL students want and deserve the same opportunities as anyone else to excel and grow at work. To ensure this, the work readiness portion in any ESOL program needs to be exactly the same as a work readiness program for non-ESOL participants. Only work readiness topics are covered in the text of the book. It is assumed that ESOL/ESL programs already have materials to teach topics such as reading, writing, grammar, etc. Therefore, the ESOL exercises in this book are used to apply those previously taught and learned skills to workplace materials and situations; and to further help the participants understand the work readiness topics taught in Workplace Basics. Since the work readiness materials are the same as the ones for non-ESOL participants; these materials are targeting high-middle tier to upper tier ESOL students. This book, the first of four planned work readiness-ESOL books (Workplace Basics, Workplace Skills, People Skills, Customer Service all with ESOL Exercises) covers topics that all workers need to know, that many employers assume they do know, but that many workers, in reality, do not know. This often leads to supervisors and managers becoming very frustrated with workers who, otherwise, would be top performers. The book starts by explaining the profit motive of businesses and the relationship between profits and job security and employee compensation. The goal is to clearly demonstrate that employees' life goals are closely aligned to the success of the company for which they work. After this introduction, the book covers behaviors that employees need to follow help ensure a successful workplace, which in turn, helps keep the company profitable and everyone employed. Topics include: absenteeism, tardiness, use of sick days, proper grooming, safety in the workplace, how life style and habits away from work impacts work, avoiding harassment and discrimination at work, dating in the workplace, being dependable, being responsible, the difference between raises and promotions, and more.
About the Author: Jay Goldberg, MBA, is a former Citibank executive. At Citibank, Mr. Goldberg specialized in customer service management, measurement, training, capacity planning, profitability, MIS reporting, and strategic planning. After almost fourteen years with Citibank, Mr. Goldberg left to form his own consulting firm, DTR Inc. DTR Inc. specializes in writing business plans, developing workplace training programs, designing and implementing customer service strategies, performing strategic planning and market research (e.g., surveys, focus groups, etc.), helping businesses build their brands, and training managers and employees. At DTR Inc., Mr. Goldberg developed the program parameters, program strategy, curriculum, lesson plans, assessments, competency statements, and certification tests for a Work Readiness Training Program called the best Work Readiness Certification Program in the United States by a representative of the National Skills Standard Board at a presentation of the Program in Jacksonville, Florida on 01/13/03. Mr. Goldberg later updated, modified and added to that Program for a second client and wrote a book, "How to Get, Keep and Be Well Paid in a Job" (ISBN = 9781505575835) specifically tailored to individuals looking to improve their work readiness skills. In 2007, Mr. Goldberg was instrumental in helping the Palm Beach County Resource Center (Riviera Beach, Florida) develop a revolutionary Entrepreneurship Training Program. The program's structure was unlike any other in the marketplace, and would prove to be highly successful. In 2012, Mr. Goldberg's entrepreneurship book, "Building a Successful Business," (ISBN = 9781470000639) was published. The book is now being used as a textbook in entrepreneurship courses. The book is both a textbook and a workbook with tools entrepreneurs can use to help start, grow and manage their businesses. While at the Palm Beach County Resource Center, Mr. Goldberg worked with hundreds of small businesses and got a good handle on how to best structure and implement a work readiness training program to ensure that benefits of training were demonstrated in the workplace.