Many companies that do business globally are building workforces staffed by employees worldwide. At the same time, organizations operating solely in the U.S. are also rapidly diversifying, as people originating from different countries are becoming a more significant percentage of America’s population.
Facilitating multilingual communication by investing in translation and interpretation services is a simple yet effective way to improve company culture and show commitment to creating an inclusive environment.
How Language Access Affects Inclusion
Language access is a vital piece of a diversity and inclusion plan. This is true for companies operating in multiple countries and is equally essential for organizations based in a single country like the United States, where the workforce is mixed.
The United States is a melting pot of cultures and home to an incredibly linguistically diverse population. Whether trying to reach specific audiences in your market or expanding your pool of potential employees, translation and interpretation are necessary tools for overcoming language barriers.
According to the US Census, over 67 million people speak a language other than English at home in the US- an all-time high. Spanish is the most common language besides English, making Spanish translation services important for any US-based company. Many people who also speak English do not consider themselves proficient in English and may miss important information or have misunderstandings when given content in English.
What is Diversity and Inclusion?
Diversity and inclusion is a concept about supporting inclusion and fostering belonging among all communities, increasing access to services, and acknowledging or celebrating differences.
DEI (Acronym for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) has become a cornerstone initiative of educational organizations, government agencies, and corporations. DEI programs play a critical role in making schools, workplaces, and government services more inclusive and supportive of people who have been historically underrepresented or disadvantaged.
A diverse workforce or community is one that includes a mix of people and differences: different genders, races, ages, religions, ethnicities, sexual orientations, disability statuses, and cultures. Diversity can also refer to education or socioeconomic status. DEI helps de-homogenize teams and increase the diversity of ideas in workplaces.
How Diversity Affects Business Success
The world has become increasingly interconnected. People move from one continent to another, work in countries they don’t live in, and connect with people who don’t speak the same language. Focusing on diversity helps companies stay strong and hire the best candidates from a global pool.
Diversity of thought is vital to increase creativity and innovation in all spaces, as different experiences create different ways of thinking, which can bring creative ways to problem-solving or present different approaches to challenges. Harvard Business Review ( in another window, no follow) reports that diverse teams are more imaginative, innovative, and profitable than homogenous ones, dubbing it the “costly pitfalls of conformity.” Employing professional translation services and language interpretation services allows for multilingual content for information and clear communication in live situations.
Offering document translations and interpretation services supports DEI Programs by giving access to information. It is one step on the road to creating an inclusive environment that doesn’t add any workload to your existing team.
How Language Services Support DEI Initiatives
One of the simplest ways to create impact and overcome language barriers is to make information and services available to someone in their native language. This access is possible through professional translation services for written information and effective communication via interpretation services over the telephone, on Zoom meetings, or in person.
Professional translators and interpreters create better access and inclusive representation for people, which increases understanding and participation. Full participation is key, whether in a medical situation, at school, or in the workplace, because people who understand work effectively and make informed choices about healthcare, governmental obligations, and even what products they purchase.
How Translation Service Benefit a Community:
A successful diversity and inclusion program is funded, prioritized, and understands the target audience. You must know the languages your customers or residents speak to provide materials in that tongue. Your organization must understand what materials are the most used to prioritize the translation process and identify situations like town hall meetings where interpreters may be necessary.
- Interpreters can help parents communicate with teachers and other educational staff at their children’s schools to share information, resolve problems, and support kids to reach their full potential. Spanish Interpretation Services are often requested for parent-teacher conferences in the U.S.
- Translated educational materials can help children learn better to perform on the same footing as their peers.
- Translated business materials increase access to job training, certifications, and more.
- Human resource translation assists employees in understanding their roles and employee handbooks. Document translation offers a clear understanding of Human resource content for employees.
- Interpreters increase access to medical services and, crucially, understanding of the services and information provided at doctor visits to help people stay healthy, informed, and active participants in their health.
- Translated government documents help people who speak a language other than English pass key milestones, such as getting a driver’s license, registering to vote, and paying taxes. For compliance, companies need to use Canadian French translation services for their content in Canada.
- Translated documents from insurance company facilities access to health and dental care.
- French Interpretation Services are a common request for translation agencies in Canada. On the other hand, Spanish interpretation services are more prevalent in the U.S. due to the large Hispanic population.
Providing access to information and documents in your customer’s native language is essential for succeeding in business. Similarly, providing information to residents in a language they understand is crucial for maximizing resident engagement in local government and fostering understanding and informed decisions in medical situations.
Incorporating language services shows a commitment to inclusion and respect for diversity. A professional translator makes the process simple and gives you a high-quality translation that shows respect for customers and employees. It increases communication, collaboration, and productivity in the workplace and is a building block to a culture that welcomes open discussion, a flow of ideas, and different viewpoints. These things make a company more robust, more resilient, and, yes, more profitable, too.
Documents that can benefit from translation services include:
- Hiring and onboarding documents
- HR policies and performance reviews
- Safety procedures
- Training and educational materials
- Employee handbook and student resources
- Government websites
- Video Training
- Corporate communication in general
Situations where an interpreter can be beneficial include:
- Internal meetings
- Medical visits
- Parent-teacher conferences
- HR Training
- Compliance Training
Other Ways to Foster an Inclusive Workplace Environment
A genuinely inclusive workforce or community is one where everyone is comfortable expressing their ideas in the language they are most competent in. Language services are essential but not the only piece of the puzzle.
- Flexible PTO for religious holidays
- Nondenominational office celebrations
- Offering food that caters to religious and dietary restrictions
- Diversity-focused mentoring
- Gender-neutral language
- Disability accommodations
Diversity and inclusion are about creating a culture in which everyone can thrive. Diversity is a competitive advantage for companies and a facilitator of strong communities. If you’re ready to increase language access through professional translation services, you need the right translation company ( https://jrlanguage.com/- professional translation company).
At JR Language Translation Agency, we have years of experience in document translation and in-person interpretation services. We are ready to go the extra mile to exceed your expectations at competitive prices, designing language solutions to meet your needs and budget. Contact us for a translation service quote today— we’d love to hear from you.
