BSL stands for British Sign Language, which is how vocally and aurally disabled people communicate with each other, as well as with those that have no such disabilities. The job of the BSL interpreter is extremely important to help disabled people meet a lot of their daily interactive needs, but in a commercial setting, their role becomes even more crucial.
When Does a Company Need the Services of a BSL Interpreter?
Any organization that has one or more employees with vocal and aural disabilities may need a BSL interpreter. In the absence of an interpreter who can both understand and express BSL fluently, it would be impossible for the disabled workers to maintain necessary communication with co-workers, supervisors, and management. The situation would also be true from the opposite side, as they won’t be able to communicate with disabled workers properly either.
Why Do Companies Need BSL Interpreters?
If there was no way for the people who can hear and speak to communicate with those that can’t and vice-versa, it could potentially and eventually lead to mistakes, accidents, loss of productivity, ineffective work sessions, loss of morale in the workforce, and loss of confidence within the disabled employees.
BSL interpreters are hired to keep the bridge of two-way communication open and smooth for both sides. Their role, as mentioned earlier, is crucial in maintaining fluidity in an work environment, where there are deaf and mute individuals present and working.
In addition to the reasons of communication, it is also a legal mandate for most commercial operations to have a BSL interpreter present on a site, where employees who need their aid are working. Failing to do so might lead to hefty fines or even lawsuits. Also, no company in the United Kingdom is allowed to refuse jobs to a disabled individual, unless their disability makes it impossible for them to do the job in question.
BSL Interpreters Can be Essential for Customer Service
Thinking beyond the workforce, the services of an interpreter will also be essential often to provide service and support in any business that deals with the customer/client directly. However, given that it is the kind of need that isn’t continuous, but essential all the same, video BSL and language services like this solution from involveinterpreter.co.uk is a much better fit. Their scalable, video BSL interpreter service is HSCN/N3 compliant and all their BSL interpretation, note-taking, and lip-speaking services are performed by certified professionals who are NRCPD registered.
To put it simply, BSL interpreters are good for business in more ways than one. Also, not hiring one when you should is both morally and legally incorrect. However, cost-efficiency is something that every business of any size should always consider, just as they would before hiring any other professional for any other job. A scalable, fast, and comprehensive service is especially preferable for that very reason, as it keeps the communications lines open, the clients/customers happy, and the costs down.
