F R O M T H E C L E R K O F C O U R T & C O M P T R O L L E R C i n d y S t u a r t – C l e r k o f C o u r t & C o m p t r o l l e r , T h i r t e e n t h J u d i c i a l C i r c u i t
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The new policy is an easy , simple way to show appreciation , and it ’ s a service we can provide to connect our Office to the communities we serve .
The Clerk ’ s Office is fully committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all . To measure our progress towards this goal , we compared our January 2021 workforce data to the July 2019 American Community Survey data for Hillsborough County . 1 The comparison confirmed that the Clerk ’ s Office is a Majority Minority employer with a workforce make-up that is more diverse than the community we serve .
We are already receiving positive feedback from our bilingual employees who are now being paid every month for adding so much to our organization .
“ When I approach a Spanish-speaking customer , they seem relieved and grateful that we do have somebody who speaks their language ,” Customer Service Manager Eileen Salas told Bay News 9 in an interview last fall .
Right now , the Hillsborough County Sheriff ’ s Office is the only other county agency that has a bilingual incentive pay policy .
I believe every community should be providing this service . Every government agency should be providing opportunities for employees to help customers not to feel intimidated when they come into our office .
Part of our promise to Hillsborough County is to promote diversity within our workforce , transparency with the public , and remain an unbiased partner to stakeholders . This is one of many steps we are taking to renew our promise .
In her Bay News 9 interview , Salas said that “ it ’ s just better to have people within the organization to represent those constituents and who are able to communicate with them . [ They ’ re ] grateful that they have someone to talk to in their language , so I ’ m hoping that other agencies follow suit .” n
0 %
40 %
White
COMPARISON BY RACE & ETHNICITY CLERK ’ S OFFICE VS . COUNTY POPULATION
47 %
30 %
18 %
Black or African American
< 1 % < 1 % < 1 % < 1 %
American Indian / Alaskan Native
5 % 4 %
Asian
Native Hawaiian and Other
Pacific Islander
Clerk ’ s Office % Hillsborough County %
1 % 2 %
2 or More Races
23 %
29 %
Hispanic or Latino
1 http :// censusreporter . org / profiles / 050000US125057-hillsborough-county-fl .
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