Adding pictograms to translated documents

March 8, 2013 By

Hato Bus multilingual system supporting English (UK) English (US) Chinese Korean and... Australian...

One great resource for a multilingual workplace is using images, or pictograms, in documents. Images can be especially useful in safety manuals or policy and procedure documents, where communicating detailed information is essential to business and human resources.

Translating important information from the majority language (say English) into the minority language (Spanish, for example) is crucial to a safe and fair workplace. Using pictograms to communicate can help those with limited language skills in either the majority or minority languages.

Multilingual Connections can not only translate your workplace documents but also add pictograms to be sure that all employees understand the important communications to remain safe and content at work.

Filed Under: Business, Cultural competency, English in the Workplace, Immigrant workforce, Spanish in the Workplace, Workplace diversity

Latino Population and Workforce Growth in the Midwest

November 13, 2012 By

When we think of areas in the United States with large Latino populations, we often think of border states like California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and Florida, or metropolises like New York City and Chicago.

However, the Latino population is booming in Midwestern states like Iowa, Minnesota, Indiana and Nebraska. A recent article in the Wall Street Journal explores this increase in Latino population in the Midwest. In fact, between 2000 and 2010, the Hispanic population in the Midwest swelled 49%, more than 12 times the 4% overall population growth there, according to the 2010 census. The number of Latinos living in Iowa alone climbed 82% during the last decade and now represents 5% of the state’s population.

Why is America’s heartland appealing to Latinos and recent immigrants? “It’s much better here than in California,” says José Rodas, profiled in the WSJ piece, who moved to Ottumwa, Iowa in 2001 to take a job at the Cargill pork plant, after more than a decade eking out an existence in California and Nevada. “There’s lots of work, it’s tranquilo and the cost of living is low.”

Not that life as a recent immigrant in a small, Midwestern town is easy. Some municipalities have taken measures to make it illegal to rent property to undocumented immigrants. That being said, some towns hit hard by the recession are seeing a welcome increase in population and taxable property revenue. With so many new residents, shopping centers are opening and empty storefronts are filling with Latino-owned grocery stores and restaurants.

“Hispanics are pulling this town out of a long recession,” says Nicole Banner, a loan officer at U.S. Bank and a member of Ottumwa’s diversity committee.

It’s no secret that Latinos are changing the face of the American economy. Businesses looking to adapt to this Spanish-speaking workforce often seek document translation services and corporate language training. At Multilingual Connections, we believe when a business provides training like on-site English as a Second Language, it creates a stronger, higher-skilled and more loyal workforce. We also believe in a culture-first approach, which sustains accuracy and a sense of respect toward the end-user audience.

Want to learn more about culture-specific document translation, on-site ESL or live interpreter services? Contact Multilingual Connections!

Filed Under: Business, Demographics, Immigrant workforce, Latino

Top 10 Languages Spoken in the US (Besides English)

October 9, 2012 By

According to the 2010 US Census, 20.1% of the population age 5 and over speaks a language other than English at home.

To see a breakdown of languages spoken in the US, check out this PDF from the Migration Policy Institute. According to the Institute, Spanish is the most popular language spoken by people they have identified as English Language Learners, followed by Chinese, Vietnamese, French, Haitian Creole, Korean, Hindi, Arabic, Russian and Hmong.

An interesting statistic explored in this fact sheet is a geographic breakdown of where Spanish is the top non-English language spoken in the U.S., and where it isn’t. Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Maine, Vermont, Alaska and Hawaii are states where Spanish is not the top language spoken outside of English.

The number of people living in the United States who speak English as a second language is growing every year. Businesses are finding it necessary to translate documents for their target audiences and for their workforce. Multilingual Connections can help with your document translation projects of any size. Not sure where to start? Contact us, or request  a free translation quote.

Filed Under: Demographics, Immigrant workforce, sidebar3

Language in the Multilingual Workplace

September 16, 2012 By

In today’s multilingual and multicultural workplace, issues of language exclusion are hot as ever. A prime example is this story out of Norway, where a Polish hospital worker was fired for speaking Polish on her unpaid lunch break.

She was fired because she failed to heed a policy of Sykehuset Telemark hospital that forbids the speaking of any language other than Norwegian in the hospital, during working hours and on breaks. That means that immigrant workers, who may share a common, native language, must speak to one another in a secondary language, or they will lose their jobs.

The hospital believes that speaking languages other than Norwegian leads to a “bad working environment.”

We all understand the value of using a shared language in the workplace, to foster communication especially related to business and safety. That is why many of our clients seek out our Workplace English as a Second Language classes. When English is the majority language, employers understand the importance, and the benefits, of all employees understanding a common language better.

But we also understand the value of cultural competency in the workplace. About creating a confident workforce based on mutual respect. That means respecting language disparities by providing translation when necessary, and respecting workers’ rights to engage in workplace-appropriate conversations with their colleagues in their native, comfortable language. An employee that feels respected at work will likely become a more valuable, long-term member of the team.

Does Sykehuset Telemark hospital have the right to create its own policies regarding language and behavior at the workplace? As long as those policies follow local laws, then of course it does. However, if the hospital is trying to create the “good working environment” it intends, it would benefit them to think of how language policies affect every stakeholder at that hospital.

Learn more about cultural competency in previous Multilingual Connections blog posts.

Filed Under: Business, Cultural competency, Immigrant workforce, Workplace diversity

Training Hospitality Workers in English

September 7, 2012 By

As we state on the Multilingual Connections website, over 25 million adults in the US are considered Limited English Proficient (LEP), and immigrants are now 1 in 2 new workers. This can present serious obstacles in the workplace in regard to efficiencies, accidents, customer service and employee advancement. These obstacles are especially present in the hospitality industry.

According to the American Hotel and Lodging Association, as of 2011 there were more than 51,000 hotels in the United States comprising a total of 4,874,837 guestrooms and generating over $138 billion in revenue. Many of the 5,000,000+ employees staffing these properties are Limited English Proficient (LEP) and, due to this language barrier, struggle to master the essential skills and training required to thrive in their roles.

LEP employees benefit from on-site English language training in a variety of ways. They are able to better understand and therefore comply with safety and training guidelines, ask for and give directions, discuss scheduling, receive training across departments, make suggestions, participate in meetings and move up within the organization over time. Employees’ access to English training outside of work is often limited due to overcrowded ESL programs, the high cost of college ESL courses, limited childcare or transportation and scheduling challenges.

Offering on-site classes is an excellent way to ensure employees gain the language they need to complete high frequency tasks, provide excellent customer service to clients, troubleshoot customer issues as needed and more fully participate as a team member.

Our Workplace English as a Second Language courses prepare employees to effectively communicate at work. We help students build listening and speaking skills, increase their confidence using the language and set them up for success by teaching important aspects of US culture. This training raises employee morale and loyalty at the same time that it improves their job performance.

The steps of setting up a Workplace English class:

1) A representative from Multilingual Connections meets with stakeholders and managers at the work site to: identify the initial motivation for seeking language training; agree upon key goals for the training; isolate the best day/time/location for classes; agree upon length of training (we typically recommend 30-40 hours). Multilingual Connections then assesses students to identify their level and appropriately choose materials for the class.

2) A Multilingual Connections instructor is selected for the class and a custom curriculum is created to supplement the core course materials to ensure the key goals are covered throughout the training.

3) Training launches. At the halfway point there is an evaluation by students to keep class on track and help the instructor make sure he or she is meeting the students’ needs.

4) At the end of training, students are re-assessed, managers discuss progress and areas of improvement with the the instructor and Multilingual Connections. The team discusses plans that will allow students to continue to practice the language, and new rounds of classes are launched as needed.

Workplace ESL courses can help businesses retain quality hospitality employees. For more information about a custom Workplace English as a Second Language course at your place of business, click here.

Filed Under: Business, English in the Workplace, Immigrant workforce

Preventing workplace injuries through language training

June 20, 2012 By

OSHA regulations are designed to keep employees safe, and also to protect businesses from fraudulent claims. Transmitting these regulations to the workforce is incredibly important to both parties. Yet an often overlooked but essential component of workplace safety is language training.

When companies implement English-only safety programs to a multilingual workforce, avoidable accidents occur. As we reported in a previous post, in 2011 the workplace fatality rate among Latinos was 13.5% higher than for US workers overall. Approximately 65% of low-wage immigrant workers are Limited English Proficient (LEP), and not surprisingly, OSHA estimates that over a quarter of workplace injuries are attributable to the language barrier.

OSHA maintains a Spanish language website and provides Spanish safety documents, but those resources are not enough for businesses looking to prevent workplace injuries due to a language barrier. Let alone the fact that a multilingual workplace operates in languages other than Spanish and English. Language training becomes an essential component to an overall safety program to bridge the language barrier between employees and managers, to better communicate safety initiatives, to celebrate successes.

Language training can be on-site English as a Second Language training for LEP workers. It can also mean second language training for English speakers, or a supplemental course in industry-specific terminology. The language component can lead to better employee-manager relations in addition to better safety communication which both aid in accident prevention. Direct translations are sometimes not enough; keep in mind members of the workforce that may struggle with literacy in their primary language.

At Multilingual Connections, we believe a focus on improving communication can bridge a culture gap, in addition to breaking down a language barrier, among the workforce. We never separate language from culture in our translation and language instruction services, particularly pertaining to workplace safety.

Multilingual Connections offers translations in 50+ languages as well as on-site English and Spanish vocational training. Contact us for more information.

Filed Under: Cultural competency, Immigrant workforce, Safety

Marketing to a Multilingual Workforce

June 4, 2012 By

Today’s American workforce is more multilingual than ever. Studies show that as Latinos become the nation’s largest minority group, Spanish-speakers hold a significant place in our national economy. Companies both large and small can benefit from a multilingual approach – here are some simple steps to get started.

Attracting multilingual employees

First off – present your business as bilingual. If you can’t translate your entire website, translate a few key pages, or at least show bilingualism on your homepage and contact page. The same goes for marketing materials. A bilingual staff member who can field phone calls is a major plus.

The Houston Chronicle lists some great tips on finding bilingual employees, including reaching out to translation and interpreter companies that can provide references from their networks.

The article also recommends reading expatriate message boards as a way to find multilingual Americans returning home, looking for work. Here are a few we found:

Expat Blog

Expat Women

Transitions Abroad

Equipping your Human Resources program

Translating human resource documents is a must. Most workplaces should have the basics available in multiple languages: job applications, work contracts, safety regulations, benefits descriptions. Access to a professional translator can play a vital role across industries. A recent investigation documented 1,884 translation errors, of which 18 percent had potential clinical consequences, when hospitals rely on family members to interpret to patients. Interpreters can also shorten hospital stays for patients who don’t speak English.

Cultural Competance and Multicultural Support

Business owners can support English as a Second Language learning as easily as posting information about local classes. Many community colleges and Parks & Recreation departments host continued education English language courses. Perhaps offer your business place to be a host site for ESL classes.

Above all, recognizing the value of a multilingual workforce is the first step toward fostering a vibrant workplace community. Cultural competence is a set of behaviors which can be learned, and improved, over time.

See our list of translation services at Multilingual Connections, and a list of language courses at Multilingual Chicago.

Filed Under: Business, Immigrant workforce

Creating a safe work environment for Hispanic employees

May 24, 2011 By

Last week I presented a session at the 69th Annual Wisconsin Safety & Health Conference. In the US, there are approximately 50 million Latinos – one in six Americans (and 1 in 4 children!) – and the Hispanic population accounts for over half of US population growth in the last decade. I shared some eye-opening statistics, such as the following:

  • 14 people die every day at work.
  • The workplace fatality rate among Latinos is 13.5% higher than for US workers overall.
  • Of the 11,303 Latino workers who died from work-related injuries from 2003-2006, 34% worked in construction.

Why is the fatality rate so much higher among Latinos? For starters, Latino immigrants work in high-risk jobs, such as construction, at a higher rate than the general population. Then there’s the language barrier. Approximately 65% of low-wage immigrant workers are Limited English Proficient (LEP), and not surprisingly, OSHA estimates that over a quarter of workplace injuries are attributable to the language barrier.

But it’s not just language; it’s culture, too. Among Latino immigrants, safety is often viewed through a different lens. Back home, there are far fewer government inspections of work sites, and in the event of a violation, a bribe often makes it go away. Workers may be required to risk their safety, as workers are often perceived is dispensable. Is this in every work site? Of course not. But it’s not uncommon.

In the US, these workers often fear that a complaint about unsafe work conditions or a request for personal protective equipment would cause them to lose their job. And what about reporting workplace injuries? There is the same concern. Moreover, for undocumented workers, a fear of deportation frequently serves as further motivation to quietly self-treat injuries that should be reported and treated. There’s also the perception that safety regulations exist to protect American-born workers, who aren’t as “tough,” as well as the perception that the government doesn’t truly care about immigrant workers and their well-being.

So what can you do to improve the safety of your workplace? Some suggestions:

  1. Ensure that safety materials are reader-friendly and translated into the language(s) of your workforce. But that’s not enough: lower levels of literacy mean that you need to be sure to then train people – in their language – to ensure that these procedures and policies are understood. This can be done by hiring an interpreter or by using a bilingual supervisor.
  2. Consider offering job-specific English as a Second Language training. This will help improve safety, productivity and engagement, and it will also help increase your pool of internal promotion candidates.
  3. Consider offering job-specific Spanish training (as well as other languages of your workplace). With a focus on safety expressions and other key vocabulary, your managers will significantly increase their communication skills while at the same time developing your employees’ trust.

Workplace safety is too important to cut corners. Don’t let things get lost in translation!

-Jill Kushner Bishop, PhD

Filed Under: Employment, English in the Workplace, Immigrant workforce, Latino Culture, Safety, Spanish in the Workplace, Workplace diversity

Should pesticide labels be bilingual?

March 31, 2011 By

Several farm worker interest groups are petitioning the EPA to require manufacturers to translate their pesticide labels to Spanish. The groups’ goal is to increase protection for farm works that apply agricultural pesticides.

The EPA is currently debating the issue and calling for public comment in the decision-making process. The EPA says in a press release that they recognize the decision will affect all consumers, not just farm workers. Currently, the EPA requires translation of some words or phrases of agricultural pesticides, but does not require bilingual labeling on all products.

The EPA comments:

In response to the petition, EPA is considering whether to require bilingual labeling in English and Spanish for all pesticides or for only certain types of pesticides, certain pesticide use sites, certain pesticide active ingredients, pesticides in certain toxicity categories, or certain parts of pesticide labels.

This decision will be up for public comment until June 28, 2011. Information on the petition and how to participate can be found here.

Here are 3 questions the EPA asks the general public to consider:

  1. Language characteristics vary by culture, region, and other factors. How could EPA ensure that Spanish text on pesticide product labels would be understood by all potential Spanish-speaking users?
  2. Labeling in Spanish could potentially be required for all pesticide products, for a subset of pesticide products, or for a portion of the product label. If the Agency concluded that translation of a portion or portions of the label were appropriate, which portions of the pesticide label would it be most beneficial to have in Spanish, and why? If the Agency were to limit the requirement for translation to only certain products, which products should be considered, and why? (Note: please see the sample label in the docket to consider the different sections of a pesticide label.
  3. Are there languages other than Spanish and English that EPA should consider for inclusion on pesticide labels? Which languages? Please explain your reasoning for including a language other than Spanish or English on pesticide labels, and cite documents that would further bolster your suggestion.
Filed Under: Immigrant workforce, Safety, Translation

Top Ten Most Cited OSHA Standards: How can you Prevent these Infractions?

March 11, 2011 By

What’s the easiest way to prevent citation and penalties during an OSHA worksite inspection? According to OSHA, in fiscal year 2010, the ten most commonly cited standards were improperly implemented:

1. Scaffolding

2. Fall Protection

3. Hazard Communication

4. Respiratory Protection

5. Ladder Use

6. Lockout/ Tagout Procedures

7. Electrical and Wiring Methods

8. Powered Industrial Trucks

9. General Electrical Requirements

10. Machine Guarding

Far too many preventable injuries occur due to the failure to properly implement these standards. A great way to avoid these infractions is to translate your employee manuals and safety materials into the languages most commonly spoken in your worksite. You can also bring an on-site language trainer to go over the OSHA procedures in a simplified English training for your Limited English Proficient (LEP) employees.

Workforce Language Services offers translations in 50+ languages as well as on-site English and Spanish vocational training. Contact Hilary Hodge, Director or Programs, for more information hilary@workforcelang.com.

Filed Under: Education, Immigrant workforce, Language Policy, Safety, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , ,
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