Thanks for coming back to check things out. I hope you've used this information to take respectful win-win action. Make it a Great Day! Emeric
Do you lend money to your workers? 
Maybe you’ve advanced money or made a small loan. Perhaps you used the H-2B program and you fronted $50 or $100 just to help get the worker started out.
If you fronted the money, the worker assumes you are most likely the owner.
Understand, your worker will want to pay you directly. They don’t want to give the money to somebody to give to you because they want you to see they are trustworthy.
Furthermore, if they give the money to a supervisor or another worker there’s the potential the money doesn’t get to you. What if the go-between skims a little off the top?
Let your supervisors know workers should pay you back directly.
When you are given the money, shake the worker’s hand and thank him.
He’s going to thank you and feel you are trusting him.
This also shows mutual respect.
What does this all mean?
Greater trust and respect lead to greater morale, loyalty, and productivity.
Happy owner-Happy workers-Better profits-It’s all good.
By the way, other than an initial $50 or $100 to help someone start out,
I DO NOT recommend ever lending money to the workers. It creates jealousy and resentment among the crews, and abuse of YOU.
Leave me a comment about lending money to workers.
To Your and Your Workers’ Success,
Emeric
Hi Libby,
Yes, I agree with your prediction.
You bring up a potential BOMBSHELL .
The money is like a Las Vegas casino promotion where
the casino says “Stay here on us, and get $500 gambling credit”.
Not every guest stays when the credit runs out.
My B.S. meter tells me this is much more insidious
than the public will ever know.
Perhaps a way for our current administration
to “kick-back” support to the labor unions
and Congressional Hispanic Caucus.
And another way to say “see what we’ve done for the immigrants’ plight”.
But piling another tax onto the sore shoulders of American business.
What kind of stimulus is that?
Thanks for commenting!
Emeric
Emeric: Good suggestions and as always, ou’re right on point. This is similar advice to that which I’ve handed out for fifteen years to employers in the H-2 programs. And, although this is not exactly on point of your column, based on your experience and observation, what do you think will be the consequence of the Obama Admin requiring that all H-2 (A and B) workers be repaid by their employers for a) transportation expenses; b) visa application and issuance costs and c) recruiting costs? This repayment has to take place at the end of the first workweek, and will result in a check of between $700 (for Mexican workers) and $1500 (Central America workers) being handed out upon arrival in the US. My prediction is that this may turn the H-2 programs into the safest, cheapest way to get to the US and go illegal…thanks as always, Libby Whitley at MASLabor