Editorial: Immigration Give & Take

If we want the benefits, we have to shoulder some of the responsibility.

By Mary Boltz Chapman, Editor-in-Chief -- Chain Leader, 10/1/2006

After my April editorial (“On the Front Burner,” Page 8) discussing the need for stronger, fair immigration laws that address national security as well as our industry’s labor needs, I received a note arguing against my position. It states, in part, that illegal immigrants employed by our industry often get paid under the table, do not pay their share of taxes, and use medical services paid for by honest citizens.

Then I read an article in the Charlotte Observer about undocumented workers who got injured on the job and subsequently were denied workers’-compensation claims based on their status. It discussed some cases where the insurance companies refused coverage, others where the employer threatened illegal workers or fired them to avoid the problem, and some where the employees were afraid to make a claim.

Lobby Responsibly

The restaurant industry wants America’s immigration laws changed at least partly because it supplies our businesses with so much labor. But do industry leaders have some responsibility toward our non-native employees? I think we do.

You’ve seen it in old movies and sitcoms. If you save someone’s life, you’re responsible for them. Likewise, if all of your immigration-reform dreams come true, and you have an ample supply of workers willing to fill positions that others won’t, you have the responsibility for taking care of them. OK, maybe it’s not a life or death situation (at least not in most cases), but it’s so.

How can you bear some of that responsibility? Support politicians, legislation and organizations that help immigrants succeed in this country. That means votes, money and even time. If Charles Bernstein, our former editor-at-large, were here, he’d suggest that you consider running for office yourself.

Give at the Office

In the workplace, pay and treat immigrants fairly. Of course, this would never happen in one of your restaurants, but some unscrupulous business owners will conveniently turn their heads when hiring immigrants with questionable status, then take advantage of them at every opportunity. They know the workers would be afraid to stand up and report them, so they pay them less, avoid giving them chances for career growth and stability, and as the Charlotte Observer article noted, threaten them with deportation rather than accept responsibility for their work-related injuries.

Offer English language classes for Spanish speakers, and Spanish for English speakers. (Substitute Spanish for Portuguese, Chinese or whatever language your immigrant employees speak.) Create a corporate culture where employees can feel comfortable talking about their different cultural backgrounds. If diversity is even a blip on your radar screen, you know that this will help your business far beyond enabling unit-level employees to work better together.

Some businesses provide education about saving money, how to secure a mortgage and other life skills that will allow immigrants—and all your other employees—to settle, grow and be productive members of the community.

And don’t forget about your customers. If businesses appeal to immigrants, they’ll spend money (as opposed to sending it home), achieving more economic impact for the market.

It’s simple, really. If we want all these people to be able to come into or stay in the United States to work in our restaurants, we have to help take care of them.