Linguistic diversity

In order to avoid misunderstandings and the disputes and dangers they cause in the workplace, it is worth paying attention to the language, words and communication methods used in the workplace. Instructions should be understandable to everyone. 

At least people's language skills, reading challenges, technical capabilities, dialect expressions, their own vocabulary used in the workplace and various sensory challenges are worth considering. We all learn in slightly different ways and understand reality in slightly different ways. If communication between people takes place on the borderline of language skills, misunderstandings will arise quite easily. 

According to the Occupational Safety Act, people's personal characteristics must be taken into account. Often, taking personal characteristics into account helps many in the workplace. Using clear language or even plain language is in everyone's interest, although it is only crucial for some. Most of our workplaces employ multilingual people. As an easy solution, English has often been chosen as the working language, even though hardly anyone knows Finnish better or often even. It would be more sensible to consider other methods and, for example, to invest in different visual communication. Often, receiving instructions both in writing and audibly increases the number of people who understand. 

When a new employee comes to the workplace, he or she cannot know the workplace's own vocabulary. It is therefore worth creating a workplace's own vocabulary. Non-discriminatory language (inclusive language) does not leave anyone out, but gives everyone the opportunity to be the best they can be. 

More information about non-discriminatory language can be found, for example, here (only in Finnish).