Learning British Sign Language to Build an Inclusive Workplaces
If you own or run a company – or you work in HR or customer service – then developing skills in British Sign Language could be more than just a highly important ‘gesture’. Did you know that in the UK, there are 11 million people with a hearing deficit of some sort? It’s the second most common cause of disability, and it’s likely that your colleagues, customers, suppliers and potential talent pool include people with significant hearing loss.
Why Companies Need Sign Language Skills If you’re an owner-manager or executive, the reasons to make sure that your workforce is authentically inclusive and diverse go far beyond legislation and ethics. These days, it’s commercially imperative to practice the principles of equality, but to also be able to demonstrate that in a tangible way. Having learnt sign language yourself – or if you have encouraged members of staff do online courses on the topic – you add an important communications advantage to your organization. You can show that your recruitment activities welcome applications from people with hearing difficulties.