Do "foreigners" have a better work ethic than Americans? That was the point of this story in CNN. It is based on the experience of one Nigerian who came to this country and started a business where he employs a mix of native born Americans and immigrants or, as they are called in the article, foreigners.

http://money.cnn.com/2013/02/07/smal....html?iid=Lead

The article is about a very small business, but it is not the first time I have heard this comment. I thought I'd start thread to ask what your own experience has been. I'm not sure if thereis supposed to be a difference between "foreigners" immigrants, and naturalized citizens, so feel free to make any distinction based on what you have encountered.

I know that there is a significant debate about immigration reform, but please lets not get into that. I'd like to keep this thread out of the politics forum.

 

Just from casual observation, at least in my limited environment, the hardest and most dedicated workers seem to be (in no particular order) - immigrants, "non traditional" (older) students, and single mothers. Of course, my observations may result from some confirmation bias on my part. And there's some overlap in those three categories.

 

Hardest working people?

Small business owners-regardless of race/sex/religion.

 

Hmm, hard working foreigners. You mean like the French?

 

The French? Why not. But I have to admit I don't run into many people who were born in France and now live here.

We have employed people from India and China who work very hard. That is my direct experience.

What I have seen is that the contractors I hire to do work on my house or yard employ a fair number of people from Mexico, Ireland, and the Dominican Republic. The workers work very hard and have no problem working through some very adverse weather conditions like 90 to 100 degree weather.

I work with people from England. While thy are very good at what they do, I never get the sense that they are working long, hard hours. Perhaps they don't need to, or perhaps I'm just not seeing it. They are in England and I am here.

 

Bill,

I thing that "immigrants" are a subset of "foreigners" who were willing to upend their lives, leave their extended families, and start anew in a strange country. I wouldn't be at all surprised if the members of the "immigrant" subset have more drive, initiative, etc. than the whole set of "foreigners" which includes those unwilling to pack up and leave to start over somewhere else.

 

I really don't think it is so much a matter of where you come from as much as it is a matter of where you want to go and what you want to accomplish.

I have come across and have worked with many immigrants, foreigners and Americans and I can tell you no group has the monopoly on hard working people and no group has the monopoly on slackers.

I also don't think it's fair to compare different types of work. For example, there is no question that the undocumented immigrant who mows your lawn on a 90* summer day is working very hard, but is he or she working harder than the lawyer who works all weekend preparing a court brief or the CPA who works 95 hours a week in tax season, always under pressure from the clients and deadlines. Or the doctor seeing patients, listening and treating all kinds of sickness and problems. Yes, the person mowing your lawn is doing hard physical work, but physical work isn't the only hard work. That young Americans don't want to do hard physical work that pays next to nothing doesn't mean that they have less of a work ethic. Maybe it means that they're smart enough to realize that they can do better. And maybe those immigrants who are doing the hard physical work are only doing it because, unfortunately, they don't have the opportunity to do better (for whatever reason).

But back to my original point. I have had the opportunity to meet people with a great work ethic from immigrant groups, foreigners and American, and I have had the misfortune to deal with slackers from all groups as well.

 

I know several contractors, the owner of the local car wash and myself who are very happy with the Mexican workers we hire. They are hard working, show up everyday, seldom complain and are grateful for the opportunity to earn a living to support their families. The guys building a new home across from me are always very friendly, happy and love to sing while they work. There are some who could learn a lot from them. Just sayin.

 

Interesting thread, Bill...thanks for posting.

I agree with Ray on the Mexicans and wonder if their INTACT family structure has something to do with their better work ethic? There are HUGE enclaves of seasonal Latino workers (not only Mexican) in Peeay.... picking mushrooms in southern Chester County near here and picking all of the fruit in Adams County (20,000 acres of orchard) where our cottage is located.

It was interesting to me to read recently that the USA again NEEDS immigrants to do the service jobs and also other more-skilled jobs (think Indian engineers) that support INNOVATION in our economy; and these workers will pay income taxes, sales taxes and SS tax to pay for we Baby Boomers

 

I had made my comment completely as a tongue in cheek joke. Didn't expect anyone to take it seriously.