The 5-Point "Good Enough" Risk Checklist

Ask yourself "Yes" or "No" to the following five questions.

The Compliance Gap

Do you have certified, documented translations for all legally required documents (e.g., OSHA safety procedures, HIPAA consent forms, HR policies)?

[ ] YES [ ] NO

Why this matters: A verbal summary from a coworker doesn't count as formal, OSHA-required training in a language an employee understands. A front-desk employee explaining a HIPAA form isn't the same as providing a certified translation and a qualified interpreter. When an auditor or lawyer asks for the record, "we had someone explain it" isn't a legal defense.

The Accuracy Gap

Are your internal "interpreters" trained to interpret consecutively and impartially, or do they summarize and add their own opinions (e.g., "He basically said...")?

[ ] YES [ ] NO

Why this matters: An untrained bilingual employee's goal is to be helpful. A professional interpreter's goal is to be accurate and impartial. "He basically said his stomach hurts" is very different from the patient's actual words: "I feel a sharp, stabbing pain below my ribs every time I breathe in." Summaries and opinions create massive clinical and safety risks.

The Liability Gap

If a safety incident or patient complaint occurs, could you provide a legal record of professional interpretation, or would your log just say "Maria from accounting helped"?

[ ] YES [ ] NO

Why this matters: In a legal dispute, "Maria from accounting helped" is not a record of due diligence. It's an admission that you used an untrained, unqualified person in a critical situation. A professional service provides a documented, auditable trail of a qualified interpreter's involvement, protecting your organization from liability.

The Efficiency Gap

Is your best bilingual employee constantly being pulled away from their real job to put out language fires, slowing down two processes at once?

[ ] YES [ ] NO

Why this matters: This is a hidden cost that leaders often miss. When you pull your bilingual supervisor off the line, you've stopped her work and you're slowing down the employee who needs help. You are paying two people to do one person's job inefficiently. Using on-demand professional services (like Video Remote Interpreting) resolves the issue in seconds and lets everyone get back to their actual jobs.

The Confidentiality Gap

Are you asking an employee to interpret sensitive, personal information (like a medical diagnosis or an HR disciplinary action) that puts both them and the other employee in an impossible, unethical position?

[ ] YES [ ] NO

Why this matters: This is more than a compliance risk; it's an HR nightmare. You're forcing one staff member to learn private medical or disciplinary details about their coworker. This breaks confidentiality, destroys trust on your team, and creates an incredibly awkward (and potentially litigious) environment. Professional interpreters are bound by a strict code of ethics and confidentiality, just like your doctors and HR managers.

What's Your Score?

If you answered "NO" to even one question, you have a language risk. That risk—a $50,000 fine, a medical error, or a lost employee—just isn't worth it.

Let's fix it. Schedule a free, no-pressure 15-minute Language Risk Audit with me today. We'll identify your gaps and show you a simple, cost-effective way to protect your team and your business.