As companies struggle with the need for skilled labor, some have taken to solving the problem internally. Taco Inc. is one of those companies.
In addition to providing full tuition reimbursement to its employees, the company backs up its claim that learning is one of its core values. The Cranston-based manufacturer has a learning center, complete with a computer lab, which it uses to provide 45 classes on topics ranging from English as a second language to workplace yoga to computer numerical control (CNC) machines.
“We have quite an array of programs,” said Nan Quinlan, manager of training and development at Taco. President and CEO John Hazen White Jr.’s “goals and values,” she said, “are to run a financially stable company, and in order for Taco to be profitable and stable, it has to have certain things in place, including well-trained, knowledgeable employees. So as the employees grow and prosper, Taco grows and prospers.”
To help train those employees, Taco has partnered with the Community College of Rhode Island to provide English as a second language, GED, math fundamentals, workplace communication and writing classes.
According to Quinlan, though this helps employees on the job, it is also a first step toward higher education for many individuals.
Suzanne D’Onofrio, director of work force training and corporate education at CCRI, agreed that it is beneficial to employees on many levels.
“It really brings them up a level and allows them to better communicate with their supervisors and peers in English,” she said. “It allows them to read English better and allows them to gain confidence in math skills. They gain understanding and believe in themselves, and once they get that confidence, they want to go back to school.”
D’Onofrio noted that Taco nurtures that confidence. “They want to build their employees,” and so the company also offers more advanced classes for those looking to enhance their work skills.
Through a $50,000 matching work force grant from Gov. Donald L. Carcieri’s Workforce Board, Taco holds CNC courses at a variety of levels for beginners up to “super users,” welding classes in its Fall River location, supervisor and management training and, at the end of the month, will partner with Bryant University for a project management class. Taco also holds a cross-training program to expose employees to all of the departments and has held courses for college credit including HVAC research and design, Spanish, Western civilization and math and English courses.
But even though the majority of the courses are designed to enhance employees’ knowledge in academic and work-related subjects, Quinlan said that Taco is also concerned about its employees’ knowledge in subjects that will contribute to their overall quality of life.
“The Taco learning center was created in 1992 and it was designed to enrich the personal and professional lives of the employees and their families,” Quinlan said. “The programs enhance the knowledge and skills of the employee, [but] it can just be about life learning.”
This has included classes on how to negotiate, drawing and art appreciation, aerobics, healthy cooking and financial planning.
“The more that we help them in learning about how to take care of themselves or their families, they’re going to come to work a happier, better employee,” said Quinlan.
And from what D’Onofrio has seen, the plan is working.
“Their people have been there so long and are so happy there,” she said. “The way they talk about their employers is wonderful.”
