Hispanic and Non-Hispanic White New Hirees in the Navy's Blue-Collar Civilian Work Force: A Pilot Study

Abstract

This study e-xamined potential differences between newly hired Hispanic and non-Hispanic White employees in blue-collar Navy civilian jobs. Each male Hispanic who entered a craftsmen, mechanic, operative, or service worker semiskilled or journeyperson job at one of 14 Navy activities was administered a questionnaire during the first week of his employment. A comparison non-Hispanic White male entering a similar job was surveyed whenever his accession followed the accession of a Hispanic. Usable surveys were obtained from 76 Hispanics and 75 non-Hispanic Whites. The Hispanics were divided into more acculturated and less acculturated subgroups. The results indicated that the less acculturated Hispanic group reported a significantly higher need for role clarity than did the non-Hispanic White group. A second notable finding was that for all three groups the most common method of recruitment was through a friend or relative. Based on these results, it is suggested that more formal methods of recruitment be used to increase Hispanic representation. Second, the relatively higher need for clarity of less acculturated Hispanics may be accommodated through training of supervisors.