Communicating at work

It's normal to feel nervous about starting a new job. As a deaf person, you may be worried about whether you’ll be able to communicate easily with the new people you’ll meet. 

There are lots of things your employer and new colleagues can do to help. You may also be able to get funding from Access to Work to pay for communication support and technology to help.

If you have questions about communicating at work, please contact our Helpline.

Attending meetings

You have the right to be able to follow what’s being said in meetings, contribute your views and ask questions. Your colleagues must make reasonable adjustments so you can take part.

Using the phone

Employers must make reasonable adjustments if you cannot hear on the phone. For example:

• Your employer could adapt tasks so you can use email, text or video call instead of phone calls.
• For short phone calls you could use Relay UK. Relay UK provides a text-to-speech service through a relay assistant. However, Relay UK is not ideal for long conversations, especially with lots of jargon.
• If you use sign language, you or your employer could book interpreters or CSWs. They can be booked using Access to Work funding to answer the phone. You could use a video relay service such as Sign Video.

Some deaf people can hear speech well enough to listen to someone’s voice on the phone without lip-reading. In this case, there is technology available that may be useful: 

• phone amplifier
• radio aid
• binaural Personal Stereo Lead (direct input lead)
• phone that flashes when it rings.

Most hearing devices are now Bluetooth enabled. This means that they are able to connect directly to mobile phones. If you do not have Bluetooth, there are loopsets (like the Artone 3 Max) which are compatible with hearing aids that have a “T” or “loop” programme. There are also vibrating pads that you can fit in your pocket, like the Bellmann Vibio Bluetooth Shaker. These alert you to when your phone is ringing.

Access to Work may be able to cover the costs of technology and communication support.

Reading emails and documents

The level of written English or Welsh you need depends on your job. Employers shouldn’t ask for a high level of literacy unless it’s necessary for the role. 

If you’re supported by a sign language interpreter or CSW, they may be willing to support you with reading emails and documents. However, this is not technically part of their role. Some interpreters can translate BSL or ISL into written English or Welsh and vice versa. You can also ask your interpreter or CSW to look over your emails or written work, like reports. 

There are some tools that can help with written English, such as, Grammarly. It's an online writing assistant that will help with your written grammar and structure. It’s free, but there is a paid option which is recommended.

Face masks

In some workplace settings, face masks are still worn voluntarily. In a small number of settings, like healthcare or food production, face masks may be mandatory. 

Face masks can make communication difficult. Here are our top tips to help you communicate with colleagues or customers who wear face masks: 

• Wear a badge to remind people you’re deaf. A simple message like ‘I’m deaf’ or ‘I lip-read' can remind others to get your attention before communicating. Look out for badges at your local audiology clinic, deaf club or online.
• Ask your colleagues or customers to lower their masks when speaking to you.
• Ask your employer whether your colleagues can wear clear face masks instead. If you’re in a customer-facing role, ask your employer to build a transparent screen between yourself and the customer. This might help you both feel safer about asking customers to lower their face masks.
• Share our deaf awareness resources with your employer.
• If none of these options are possible, ask if you can be re-assigned to an alternative role or area.

Your employer still has a legal responsibility to make reasonable adjustments to help you communicate. If your employer refuses to make the adjustments you need, contact our Helpline.

Making friends

An exciting part of getting a new job is meeting new people and making friends. It can be scary to spend time with new people to start with, but some of these ideas might help.