Work for the Willing

This column is bound to piss someone off. In fact, it’s bound to piss a lot of people off. If you find yourself in the camp of those who want to see a bunch of Latinos corralled and carted off to their homeland, with a big “adios” and a giant middle finger salute, you will probably never want to read another one of my columns again.

Worse, I might end up on some kind of watchlist for this one, but, my vocal disdain for the ever-expanding federal government has probably already been registered on the grid somewhere, so, what the hell...

Perhaps you are one who likes to voice your never-ending discontent that you, like many other Americanos, are unemployed. Licking your wounds while putting in a full day on Facebook with your couch permanently dented, you say things like, “I can’t find a job.” Or, “there’s no work for me.” or, my favorite, “I’ve looked everywhere; there’s nothing.”

While the Sean Hannity’s and Frank Beckman’s of the world bemoan the plague known as “the illegal”, millions of other Americans recite the refrain from the same right-wing hymnal (I wonder how many more days I will be allowed to serve as a precinct delegate in the Republican party after this hits the net…). The problem with this is that not only do these people only know one verse, they’re tone deaf too.

I know I probably don’t have to spend a lot of time convincing some of the people in my industry (especially those in kitchens in LA, NYC, Miami, Chicago, etc.) that our amigos in the Hispanic culture are the backbone of our savage little skeleton. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the fact that Latinos are literally our unseen and very effective army, all I can say to you is, “wake up”.

Now, before you get the wrong idea, I need to put to bed the much repeated, seldom verified, and not-often-proven notion that all of these people are here illegally and that their status is suspect. Many of these men and women are here legally and the assertion that they are not, is not only insulting, but embarrassing, not to them, but to those of you who make those assertions (and for those of us other white people who get lumped in with you and your ignorant claims).

Now, before I continue, I will make a series of qualified statements so as not to offend some of the very solid, talented and ambitious Americans with whom I have worked. Generally speaking, I have had the pleasure of working alongside some tremendous men and women who are not of the Latino persuasion. You know who you are; you were/are great – so don’t email me. But this column isn’t to praise you; we have 24 hour programming on the Food Network to do that. This column is about bringing to light the nasty little topic that no one really wants to seriously discuss: The Latino & the American payroll. I also know that jobs are not in surplus right now, so I'm not suggesting that if you are currently without one, you are a schmuck. We all know the difference between the people who actually want to work from those who don't.

I love to hire Hispanic people because of their enthusiasm, passion, work ethic, ambition, and sense of appreciation and their noticeable lack of a sense of entitlement where promotion and hourly rate are concerned. Routinely, mi amigos run circles around their American counterparts. While the Caucasian dishwashers stand around the stereo listening to Eminem, Metallica & Jay Z, talking about their fantasy football league, Juan, Jose, Angel and Jesus are diligently scrubbing the grout behind the pot racks. While Jim and Christian are outside having a smoke, the south-of-the-border army is taking the unruly wheel off a kitchen cart with a screwdriver and giving it the WD-40 treatment so that it runs right again.

At 4 o’clock, as prep cooks and even some sous chefs are bitching about how “busy” they are, and how “tired” they are while setting up the line for dinner service, after rolling out of bed 45 minutes ago, the Fuerzas Especiales, are walking in after finishing lunch service at another restaurant, ready to start the second shift of their 16 hour day.

I will hire, train, promote and protect anyone who will give me their 100% effort. I will go to the ends of the earth to assist and support someone who has the passion and commitment to learn, better themselves, promote my business, and look out for my professional interests.

For a select few (and I DO mean “select”) I will go significantly out of my way to set them up for success. Need help getting a car? I can do that. Need a letter of reference for a new place to rent? I can do that too. Need to find a class to increase your knowledge and improve your chances for promotion in our industry? I’ll look online and point you in the right direction. Want to borrow a book or need a few tools that will help you get the job done? Come see me. Ready to move on? I’ll make some calls.

What I love about my current employee, Jose, is that he knows exactly what I want before I have to tell him I want it. I THINK IT and HE DOES IT. This, this my friend, is exactly how kitchens should run. Jose watches carefully and whatever he doesn’t speak or understand in English, he can correctly translate the concept. His skills of anticipation, observation, and sheer speed and efficiency will make him a success in our industry, long after he works for me.

What also makes him unique and has caused him to earn my respect is his sense of loyalty and gratitude. Jose is truly thankful to come to work everyday. He’s truly appreciative of every hour he is scheduled, and he gives all of his effort, no matter how tired he is, or how much he misses his family. He is never late, never lazy, never distracted and never off-point. I never wonder where he is or when he’s coming back. I don’t worry that he’s doing something embarrassing or obnoxious.

The other thing that makes him and many other people like him unique is their willingness to do ANY job. They aren’t too good to sweep, mop floors, clean a grease trap, fix a garbage disposal, or work in a stifling kitchen. They plow fields, pick produce, process animal carcasses, serve fast food, cut lawns, dig ditches, and clean bathrooms. And, they do it for significantly less money than many Americans are willing to even consider getting out of bed in the morning for.

They pay taxes, (even the illegal ones who've somehow aquired a SS number), to the tune of multiple millions of dollars each year, and they prop up the economy in other ways. By no means am I suggesting that I am a proponent of illegally entering and living in the United States. What I am suggesting is that this issue is more of a lightning rod than anything else. I am also suggesting that there are further-reaching consequences to marginalizing this demographic to suit our political tastes. The world is far too complex for all of the partisan talking points.

Instead of benefitting from the double-standard we’ve established in this country, and wringing our hands in fraudulent and shallow disdain, it would be refreshing to see an honest dialog. Instead of dismissive statements and platitudes, we owe it to ourselves to face some really uncomfortable realities. Until we are able to face the changing landscape of the economic conditions we find ourselves in, and work to solve the problem, (not capitalize on it or manipulate it for our gain), we'll solve nothing and keep complaining all the way to the nearest rally.