))
32: The Importance of Language Accessibility within a Business - with Loretta Mulberry
Manage episode 373106502 series 3345299
Content provided by Keystone Click. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Keystone Click or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://player.fm/legal.
Meet Loretta Mulberry:
Loretta is a passionate advocate for language accessibility. As a business development manager, for Terra Translations a Milwaukee-based language services provider. She's on a mission to improve safety measures and equity for everyone involved in manufacturing and construction. She is born and raised in Wisconsin broad. Who has seen the positive impact of breaking down language barriers in her community both socially and professionally. Loretta is the proud mother of one and a half future linguists and holds a bachelor's and a master's degree from UW Milwaukee in translation and interpreting.
Kris: So, tell us what language accessibility means for the manufacturing industry.
Loretta: Absolutely. So the United States is not monolingual and mono-cultural, as I mean, we all know that on some level, but it really can feel different because we get ourselves into our little pockets. You know, of course, if you don't speak English, natively, or fluently, you might feel more comfortable staying with people who speak your language better or might identify more with your culture. However, we all work together, and we all live together. And often it's in the same space. And if we don't have materials, such as training materials, specifically, my focus right now, in our native languages in a way that is meaningful to us, we're simply not getting the same access to that information. So language accessibility, means that regardless of your linguistic or cultural background, you have the same access to all the other information out there as your peers as your colleagues. And when it comes to safety and training materials, specifically in manufacturing and construction. There are real lives on the line and you know, there's a high risk of injury and even death in these jobs. So language accessibility could mean the difference between an individual's health and safety and really taking unnecessary risks.
Lori: So how, in your experience, how do companies justify that investment in language services?
Loretta: Well, I mean, you kind of said it right? In the question too, it really is an investment, there can be a sticker shock associated with it, especially if you're going to go from zero transaction to 100. It's a lot, especially if you're an established company, you have a lot of processes already in place. But the good news is, you do not need to go zero to 100, you can start with the teeniest tiniest baby step because personally, we are at terrible leave. The first step is the most important. So whether it is okay, let's take a look at what our materials are that our most important is our health and safety. Is it our you know, are there legal documents here, HR, what's going to have the most impact on our workforce or on our clients? What are our primary languages, maybe you want to start with Spanish, which is often the case in the United States, but then look into, for example, Hmong, Arabic, or any other languages that might be included in that. So it really comes down to prioritization if you are looking to dip your toes into the water before you really commit. But looking at it in the grand scheme of things, that investment is always going to be worthwhile for a few different reasons. One, again, the health and safety of your employees. I mean, from an altruistic standpoint, at the very least, of course, we all care about people's health and safety. And if they are getting materials in their native language, it is simply going to be a more practical plane is that. Second, you are leaving yourself open to a number of lawsuits in many industries. If you are not properly or not at all translating your materials into other languages. I'm talking, you know, HR departments, I'm talking medical documents, primarily financial, you really want to make sure that you cross your t's and dot your i's in that department. And you are also then opening yourself up to a more significant workforce as well a more talented a, you know, wider talent pool if you have your materials available in other languages. And if you are client-facing as well, you are possibly leaving money on the table if you're not reaching out to these new audiences who might respond to you better in a different language. So you have to look at the cost and what can we afford right now? What are the opportunities to explore in the future and where can we start today?
And so much more…
Connect with Loretta!
Connect with the broads!
Connect with Erin on LinkedIn and visit http://www.earthlinginteractive.com for web-based solutions to your complex business problems!
Connect with Lori on LinkedIn and visit www.keystoneclick.com for your strategic digital marketing needs!
Connect with Kris on LinkedIn and visit www.genalpha.com for OEM and aftermarket digital solutions!
52 episodes
Share
