Managing language barriers in the workplace: The roles of job demands and resources on turnover intentions

Immigrants are a considerable growing segment of the hospitality workforce, but with an overwhelming majority of immigrant workers having limited English speaking abilities, hospitality managers are often challenged with communication barriers. The purpose of the current study was to examine the influence of managers’ communication satisfaction with limited English speaking employees on three work-related outcomes that can be influenced by working with limited English employees: role ambiguity, role conflict, and turnover intentions. A survey was completed by 130 hotel and lodging managers. The results of a mediation model showed that satisfaction with the quality of communication with limited English speaking employees reduced role ambiguity and role conflicts, which led to lower turnover intentions. Managers’ turnover intentions are not necessarily a direct effect of the communication quality with their limited English speaking subordinates, but due to the job demands that manifest in an environment with communication barriers, such as confusion and conflicting misunderstandings.