Any human resources professional will agree, a well-written company handbook can result in happier, more confident, and more productive employees. By using professional translation, you can extend these benefits to your localized and multilingual workforce.

The employee handbook serves as an introduction to not only a company’s rules and regulations, but also its organizational structure and culture. For new hires, the employee handbook is an essential tool toward becoming oriented within their new position and becoming effective workers. Additionally, for organizations that have a multilingual work environment, it is critical that non-English speakers also have access to a version they understand.

Get All Your Employees on the Same Page

The employee handbook is not only an introduction to your company — it also lays out the information new hires need to know as they continue in their career. Whether you have a single location in a linguistically-diverse community or multiple branches around the world, your handbook helps to keep all your employees on the same page from day one.
Why is this important? Making sure all your employees get the same information will help lead to greater productivity and in some cases, safety. When employees know what’s expected of them, they’ll be better equipped to work efficiently as a team despite any language barriers, and they’ll have a greater understanding of what everyone within your company is trying to accomplish as a whole.

Presenting the proper information in multiple languages can be tricky, however. Every industry has its own specialized terminology that requires careful attention during the translation process. When it comes time to translate your employee handbook, you want to be confident that your German-speaking workers are getting the same information as Spanish-speakers. For this reason, it’s best to rely on professional translation services for your handbook. Not only will they be able to oversee the production of every language you need at once, a professional translation company can also provide localization services, such as adapting regional handbooks to take local safety regulations into account.

Keep Your Employees (and Your Reputation) Safe

Because employee handbooks often detail workplace safety rules and regulations, it’s especially important that they’re kept up to date and thoroughly accurate. Using professional translators to translate employee handbooks will help to properly convey the kind of vital information that results in fewer accidents.

Translators who are familiar with your specific industry are able to present safety information clearly and concisely. Whether you’re dealing with construction machinery, kitchen appliances, or cleaning chemicals, the difference between a translator with subject expertise and one without could be measured in everything from stubbed toes to hospital visits.

And while preventing injuries is important for its own sake, there’s an economic component to it, as well. When you minimize workplace mishaps, you also minimize worker’s compensation claims — or worse, expensive lawsuits. A good safety record keeps your employees — and your company’s reputation — healthy.

Aside from the risk of injury, making employees aware of potential workplace hazards allows them to be more productive by avoiding accidents altogether. After all, a healthy staff and properly-maintained equipment have much better results.

Contact Metaphrasis for professional translations of your company’s employee handbook and rest easy knowing you have a workforce that’s safe, confident, efficient, and productive.