OTTAWA (Nov. 4, 2002) — Citing a study that says 40 per cent of Canadian workers lack the basic literacy skills required to do their jobs properly, The Conference Board of Canada introduced a new on-line resource centre to help employers improve the literacy of their employees.

Workplace Literacy Central, created with the National Literacy Secretariat of Human Resources Development Canada, is a free service aimed at employers. The site includes local and national training resources and information, as well as best practice models.

Workplace literacy is often an unacknowledged problem because some organizations and employees are not willing to admit it exists, and others do not know how to deal with it once identified, said Michael Bloom, director of education and learning for the Conference Board.

“Literacy skills are the foundation upon which employees build further skills, knowledge, and expertise. Even a small increase in literacy skills in the country’s workplaces would make organizations more efficient and more productive,” Bloom said.

For information, go to www.conferenceboard.ca/workplaceliteracy.