Confidence means everything at work — and for Dayana Vargas, an advanced machine operator at HNI Workplace Furnishings, it’s changed her experience on the line and beyond.
For 10 years, Vargas worked hard, but sometimes her language skills held her back. “Before, if something went wrong on the line, I would ask someone else to explain,” Vargas said. “Now, I can do it myself. I feel comfortable talking with maintenance, supervisors, anyone.”
That shift came after HNI partnered with Eastern Iowa Community Colleges to offer onsite English Language Acquisition (ELA) classes — a pilot program designed to help employees improve communication at work while supporting their growth outside of work, too.
HNI, one of Muscatine’s largest employers, recognized that clear communication supports productivity and opportunity. The company scheduled the classes onsite during paid work hours, two hours, two days a week. Participants also completed about two hours of online learning each week.
Vargas didn’t hesitate to sign up. “I thought, why not? Maybe I can improve my language skills,” she said.
The class was welcoming and her confidence built quickly. “At my kids’ schools, at the store — everywhere, I feel more comfortable,” Vargas said.
That boost in confidence is inspiring her next steps. She wants to continue to advance within the company. “I’m looking for the next level in my area,” Vargas said.
The program itself reflected a simple but powerful idea: invest in employees’ communication skills and confidence, and the whole company benefits.
HNI recognized Vargas’s accomplishment and her peers with a graduation ceremony and certificate at the end of the course. “That was really nice — I even showed it to my kids,” she said.
For Vargas and her coworkers, stronger language skills have meant fewer barriers, more opportunity, and greater connection — at work and beyond.
Interested in bringing a program like this to your workplace? Reach out to EICC’s Office of Continuing Education at eiccinfoFREEEICC or call 1-888-336-3907.