Women in Localization and SDL will coordinate to organize workshops and events centered around the mental wellbeing of industry workers and the general community.

SDL, the intelligent language and content company, has partnered with Women in Localization to raise awareness of mental health issues and promote mental and physical wellbeing of people working remotely during the pandemic. Founded in 2008, Women in Localization is a global community that supports women through its mentorship and coaching program, local Chapter events, training initiatives and resources. Its goal is to promote and advocate equality among members and across the localization industry. The campaign will be delivered across events organized by Women in Localization as well as SDL’s own initiatives.

According to a recent study at Stanford University, 42% of the US workforce now works from home full-time, and similar estimates have been made for workers in who have decided to work from home during the pandemic. The drastic changes in working conditions, coupled with the isolation of lockdown and political and financial instability, pose a serious threat to the mental health of the global population, with more than 40% reporting mental health conditions since June 2020.

“Those affected by mental health issues often suffer in silence,” said Virginia Clark, VP of Global Talent Development at SDL. “Our goal is to change that by hosting a series of events for our colleagues, and members of Women in Localization, where everyone feels safe, and has an outlet, to express how they feel and how they’ve personally been impacted. Training and guidance will be offered to help everyone overcome the many challenges presented by the pandemic.”

SDL, through its Platinum sponsorship of Women in Localization, plans to host a series of events through the SDL Women’s Forum alongside Women in Localization’s own events and local in-country Chapters, to encourage colleagues and members of the community to connect and share experiences about permanent shifts to working from home. SDL will also create further initiatives for its employees like virtual yoga and fitness classes, along with ongoing workshops and training focused on “Wellness in the Digital Age.”

“A big thank you to SDL for working to address the important issue of mental health during COVID,” said Women in Localization President Loy Searle. “During these very challenging times, this effort is very meaningful and can have a profound impact.”