Pasadena : Pay for Bilingual Skills
The City Council voted Tuesday to pay a $75-per-month incentive to city workers whose jobs require regular use of bilingual skills.
To be eligible for the Bilingual Incentive Program, workers must pass a proficiency test and be full-time employees of the library, health, finance or other administrative departments.
Negotiations are under way between the city and other workers, including police officers, clerical-administrative and service employees.
City officials expect Spanish and Armenian to be the primary foreign language skills needed.
Thirty-six employees have been tested and could start receiving the increased pay by the beginning of next month, City Manager Philip A. Hawkey said.
Over the next year, 150 employees are expected to be tested and gradually phased in, at a cost of about $180,000, Hawkey said.
Vice Mayor Rick Cole said the program is a part of the city’s response to preparing for a multicultural identity.
“This is an excellent example of the way we are positively adjusting in our community,” he said.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
