Does your firm have far-flung operations? Does it depend on people communicating at a distance in a second language, English? Is it looking for ways to boost English competence without burdening either front-line employees or managers?

One resource worth looking into is the Voice of America Special English program.

Special English is a simplified variant of English, designed for non-native speakers. VOA makes available a 1500-word dictionary, broadcasts and podcasts, transcripts, exercises, and other resources.

The price is right: free. The service is available via the web, and the resources are accessible everywhere.