Gap Time: Is Your Business Prepared?

If I were to ask you what "Gap Time" was - you probably wouldn't be able to tell me what it was.  In fact, up until a couple of years ago I probably couldn't have told you what it was either.  Recently, I was at an assembly where I asked the question about Gap Time to students, executives and unions leaders.   Nobody, except two young Mexican college students  were able to correctly give a definition for "Gap Time" which is - the period of time where new immigrants learn to adjust to language, and culture.

In the next decade businesses and unions will see a significant percentage of their experienced workforce retire. Succession planning is extremely important if our economy is to compete on a global basis. Are we ready to accept all these new skilled young immigrants?

If two new Spanish speaking employees were introduced to your work , could we assume that you would be ready ? Who would conduct the training? How would you supervise? Would more time be required for orientation?

Maybe some our new champions can help us eliminate these cultural gaps. The Road to Zero depends on everybody's input.