Photo by Jim Dickrell

To maintain a happy crew understand the subtle cultural differences in how Hispanics and Anglos relate to each other.

Recognizing subtle differences between Anglo and Hispanic cultures can go a long way in helping dairy producers more effectively manage Hispanic employees, says
Richard Stup of AgChoice Farm Credit in Lewisburg, Pa. Some of the differences to keep in mind:
 

Group vs. individual identity. American society places high value on individual achievement, often measuring success by how much a person does on his or her own. Hispanic cultures tend to focus on group harmony. “Getting ahead is less important than building strong relationships,” Stup says.

Personal space. Hispanics often greet each other with a handshake, a hug or a pat on the back, sometimes more than once a day. Anglos, on the other hand, often limit handshakes to special occasions and sometimes reserve hugs for close family members.

Eye contact. In Anglo culture, children are taught to make eye contact as a sign of respect. “In American society, if we’re talking to somebody and they avoid eye contact, we might take it as a sign they’re hiding something,” Stup says. In Hispanic culture, the reverse is true. “Children are taught to avoid eye contact as a sign of respect for adults,” he says. “Misunderstanding these behaviors could be serious in the workplace.”

Conversational tone. Hispanics tend to read a great deal of meaning into how things are stated. “Sometimes when managers are in a hurry or under stress, they’ll use
gruff or loud tones to get a point across,” Stup explains. “Anglo employees might simply shrug this off. But Hispanics might interpret it to mean the manager is upset or
angry with them.”

Gender. While American society recognizes men and women as equals, many Hispanic cultures are patriarchal. Dairy managers should address the issue directly by pointing out to all employees that they’re expected to treat women in middle management positions with respect. “You may need to make it clear that women in these roles represent you and are in charge,” Stup says.

Rick Mooney is a contributing editor at Dairy Today.