Who Benefits Most from Clear Language and Design?

• People with too much to read and too little time
• People who have lower levels of education and literacy
• People who are new to Canada and still learning English or French
• Younger people and new employees who are still learning the language of the workplace
• People who have learning disabilities or visual impairments

How Do Municipalities Benefit from Clear Language?

Transparency in Municipal Government

Clear language and design are essential tools in the movement toward transparency and accountability in municipal government. Good communication flows in two directions.

Towns and cities keep their citizens better informed about the services they pay for and the issues that affect them.

At the same time, clear communication makes citizens feel they are dealing with an open and accessible government – one that wants them to get involved, have their say, and make an impact.

An Inclusive, Service-driven Municipal Workplace

Clear communication has a huge effect on the quality of working life for municipal employees. For managers, it means major time savings and a sense that energy is going toward productive public service. The chance to improve communication skills on-the-job can lead to career advancement.

For unionized workers, clear communication can mean these things and more. Many unionized workers rely on technical and safety instructions to do their jobs effectively. Clearly written workplace information can mean the difference between smoothly running municipal services and chaos. Clearly written health and safety information can mean the difference between life and death.

A Democratic Union with an Informed Membership

Clear communication in the union means that more people know what’s going on and what rights they’ve won. For instance, the Hospital Employees Union in British Columbia created a version of their contract that explains the different clauses and answers common questions. It has been very popular with the members.

Having a document like this frees up a lot of time for stewards. Instead of having to explain the contract over and over again, they can get on with other union activities. Meanwhile, members understand their contract better and give better input during preparations for contract negotiations.