The Cost of Communication Barriers - 2008-10-26
A workforce without sufficient English skills presents a significant challenge to global companies. Employees who are unable to process and disseminate information quickly and accurately can adversely affect the bottom line. The question is not if a lack of English proficiency impacts operations, but how much it costs a company.
Potential Annual Costs For a Workforce without Adequate English Proficiency (per 1,000 employees in US dollars).
Lost productivity
Additional time to understand, respond to, or consult information in English (average salary $50,000)
• Reading and writing emails: 2 per day, 10 minutes each--$2,000,000
• Reading technical manuals: 20 minutes per week--$400,000
• Duplicative work due to poor comprehension in meetings: 20 minutes per week--$400,000
Increased Organizational Support Needs
Checking the work of or assisting non-English speaking employees
• Managers at 1:5 manager to staff ratio (average salary $100,000): 15 minutes per day--$600,000
• Peers (average salary $50,000 at 15% staff proficiency): 30 minutes per week--$100,000
Translation Costs
Includes Translating training manuals, safety information, company policies, etc.
• Translation at $0.50/word--$500,000
Opportunity Costs
• varies by company
TOTAL POTENTIAL COSTS--$4,000,000!!
Source: GlobalEnglish.com
Don Harris, MS, CCC-SLP
Certified Speech Language Pathologist
Business Communication Coach
www.SpeakingSuccessfully.com
