Human Resource professionals carry more answers than you think.

Christina E. Rodriguez

If there were no problems in life, it wouldn't be interesting. At least, that's what we like to tell ourselves. The same goes with work, right? You don't necessarily get along with everyone and there may be some challenges when it comes to your work place. For Latinos, it's not much different than any other group of people. But how you handle it is a different story.

Anna Falcon, who has worked in human resources over the last 10 years, says that a lot of what she's had to deal with comes from first hand experience. Among Latinos, there's a cultural difference when placed at work.

"I've seen a lot of things over the years on my own, along with hands-on situations," she said admitting that because she's Latina as well, she knows that there are certain things that Latinos do instinctively without thinking about it.

As the human resource professional at a nonprofit, many of the 172 employees continue pursuing their education, Falcon explained. One of the things that Falcon has noticed is that those women with families tend to make their way through classes slower. "They'd rather be with their family," she said. Whereas single women breeze through classes to advance in their career. Each group has a different set of priorities and it's clear that family comes first.

Another issue she has seen among the women in the workplace is that the Latinas are very competitive.  She said that arguments and debates don't normally occur among other ethnic groups. It's still something that she doesn't understand.

She also says there's a time and a place for everything. One instance she remembers is when some people were criticized for taking plates of food home from an event. "At family gatherings, one of the first things you after dinner is to make a plate for the person who couldn't make it, right?" she said. Sometimes, it's a cultural habit that needs to be left for family parties.

So when things come up in the work place, challenges that especially include other people, it's important to know who to go to in the matter. There are some places of work that are lenient, some that are stricter, she said. Nonprofit organizations usually are more understanding of their employees because they know that they can move to a different job, possibly more money.

As a human resource professional, trainings take place all the time from insurance needs to legal needs. They become the key people to talk to when feeling pressure or problems in the workplace. Sometimes they're seen as the person to be afraid of, but in reality, the HR folks in your office can be the best people to know.

Falcon had some solid tips when it comes to problems in the work place. If they deal with someone else, talk to the person you have a problem with. Try to reason out the issue that you're having with that person and come to a solid conclusion about what can be changed or done to make the situation better, suggested Falcon.

If that doesn't work, start moving up the ladder of supervision. Typically, there is a clear chain of command in all places of work. If you have a problem with someone, move up to their supervisor if you can't settle anything with the person that's causing your anxiety.  

Also, if you have questions, ask! Sometimes rules and regulations at work can be unclear. If you have a question about expectations go to your HR department and ask for clarification. HR professionals can also give you tips about your benefits, insight into best practices and more.

Christina E. Rodriguez  researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues for Empleos.