Create a Partnership

Creating a partnership with your international workers is crucial to developing an optimum workforce.  Ideally, the workers will return for following seasons and pass the word along that your business is a desirable and profitable place to work.

To accomplish this, it is important that workers understand the specifics regarding pay, housing, hours worked, and bonuses. When an employer offers detailed information concerning the job and compensation, there is a greater likelihood that the worker will be satisfied.

The legal hourly wage for J-1 employees is the federal minimum wage. We recommend that employers offer positions that pay a minimum of $8 per hour with full time hours and additional benefits. By providing an attractive employment package that includes good wages, a bonus upon completion of employment, meals and entertainment/event vouchers, an employer increases the probability that workers will have a satisfying and successful experience. 

Other strategies for nurturing partnership include hosting international days that spotlight the workers and their home countries, organizing after-hours activities such as field trips, sight-seeing tours of the local area and passes to the amusement/water park. These all demonstrate the employers' commitment to their workers and contribute to the workers' positive experience in the United States.

Support Your Workers

International workers often face challenging adjustments upon arrival in the U.S. and may require assistance in settling. Adjusting to American culture, speaking English in a public setting, dealing with administrative processes such as Social Security and banking are typical issues that are easily addressed if workers have support.

Most concerns can be efficiently dealt with by the employer. However, when difficult issues arise, a provider company should have local associates in a position to assist both the worker and the employer.

Experience has shown that most international workers are adventurous and adapt easily to their new environment. International work partnerships create lasting rewards and benefits for both employers and employees.