Deaf Awareness Week 2024: Five Ways Employers Can Support Deaf Employees and Those with Hearing Loss

1. Educate your team and provide training.

A simple place to start is by educating your team about deafness and the challenges faced by individuals with hearing loss. Many people don’t disclose their hearing loss at work for fear of it impacting the way they are seen by their colleagues or employers, but creating awareness among existing employees can help foster empathy and understanding and create an environment where people will feel safe in sharing their experiences.

The RNID have a host of free invaluable resources for raising awareness at work. You can also consider organising group training sessions. for your teams to take part in.

2. Provide accessibility and communication support.

One of the most important concerns for a Deaf individual relates to feeling excluded from the communication happening around them. An office setting can become a very isolating place if you cannot hear your colleagues, and it is paramount that employers are aware of this and create adjustments to build inclusive cultures. It is important to make sure you – as the employer – put the correct accessibility measures in place. This not only includes health and safety measures (such as providing visual alerts, vibrating alarms, and other assistive technologies) but also involves creating an inclusive environment.

Consider whether you are giving Deaf employees the opportunity to sit in the most comfortable location in a large, open-plan office, where they can hear colleagues without being distracted by loud, directional sounds. Often, Deaf employees will appreciate the chance to work in quieter, single-worker bays or use headphones during busy, focus periods. Communication support can also be offered during meetings.

Here are a few other ways to create good communication practices with Deaf employees:

3. Teaching the basics.

Learning the basics of Fingerspelling (the British Sign Language (BSL) alphabet) – such as saying something as simple as ‘Good Morning’ or introducing yourself in British Sign Language. – can go a long way when it comes to communicating with Deaf colleagues in the workplace. Showcasing awareness and inclusivity can make a big difference in making people feel involved. Even if your sign language skills are not the most sophisticated, it is important for an individual with hearing loss to feel involved and included in conversations.

4. Be flexible and utilise technology.

Being flexible in the way you work with a Deaf employee is important. Start by understanding their pre-existing appointment commitments related to hearing issues and taking steps to be flexible around working from home or travelling into the office. Sometimes, in-person meetings can feel overwhelming if you have hearing loss, and it can be draining trying to listen to multiple people and filter out background noise. Be aware of your meeting rooms, numbers, and environment. If you are organising a team meeting, consider offering a virtual attendance option, as some individuals might find it easier to work from home and join on a virtual call when there are large group meetings being held. Learn more about RNID and their approach to accessibility and meetings here.