Funded by the U. S. Department of Education,
this project to develop workplace literacy was undertaken by CSAL in
1988. The project was designed to provide instruction in workplace literacy
for entry-level employees of Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta. These
employees worked in the hospital's food service, housekeeping, and laundry
areas, and needed enhanced literacy skills, not only for high quality
performance in their present positions, but also for possible consideration
for promotion and transfer to other jobs. The majority of the participants
were African-American women whose average age was 42 and whose average
educational attainment was 11th grade. To prepare for this project,
employees were interviewed to determine the literacy demands of their
work. Job-relevant materials, such as the personnel manual, job descriptions,
memos, paycheck stubs, and insurance forms, were evaluated for literacy
processes. Classes were held twice a week for 36 weeks to provide instruction
in reading, writing, oral communication, and problem solving B all skills
integral to the employees' jobs. Pre- and post-test scores indicated
that the students made statistically significant gains in reading, writing,
and oral communication. How did the employees feel about the project?
In post-project interviews, the employees said that their participation
had increased their academic skills and their oral and written expression,
and had improved their job knowledge. Equally important, they felt that
the project had enhanced their self-confidence. The employees' supervisors,
too, reported that the program had increased the employees' skills in
oral expression.
