Working with Hispanic Clients: Employee Assistance Professionals Must Understand Cultural and Racial Differences when Helping Hispanic Workers, But the Biggest Challenge May be Earning Their Trust and Getting Them to Use the EAP in the First Place

According to the 2006 U.S. census, there are approximately 45 million Hispanics in the United States. Close to 30 million are of Mexican heritage, about 4- million are of Puerto Rican descent (and have been U.S. citizens since 1917), and roughly 1.5 million are Cuban. Many of these Hispanics are in the workforce, so it is essential that employee assistance professionals better understand them and encourage them to use EAP services. First, EA professionals must recognize and appreciate the differences between Hispanics who were born and raised in the United States and those who emigrated to this country Hispanics who have been in the United States for a few generations (and especially many Mexican-Americans) are much more assimilated into U.S. culture than recent immigrants, who may feel intimidated due to language barriers.