Language in the Workplace
HS
923 Posts
Does anyone know if a manager can request that all employees speak one language (English) in the workplace? Are there any potential issues from a discrimination standpoint? The jobs do not require that they speak one language or another, but the issue is that if they are speaking anything other than English, it is not known if;
1) They might not understand an aspect of their job and are asking someone who speaks the same language about an issue...the supervisor then wouldn't know if they need additional training.
2) They are speaking about something personal, gossiping, etc. on company time.
What are your thoughts? Anyplace where I can do research on my own?
As always, any comments would be helpful, Thank-you.
1) They might not understand an aspect of their job and are asking someone who speaks the same language about an issue...the supervisor then wouldn't know if they need additional training.
2) They are speaking about something personal, gossiping, etc. on company time.
What are your thoughts? Anyplace where I can do research on my own?
As always, any comments would be helpful, Thank-you.
Comments
You've hit on a hot topic that many of our state employment law letters are writing about because the EEOC recently issued some new guidance on national origin discrimination and related language, accent, and harassment issues. Here's how to research the topic on this website:
If you are a newsletter subscriber and have access to the searchable database, log into the system and click on the "HR Search Engine." Then, on the next page, type in that you want to view all the articles that mention "English-only." In the second available slot, tell the database that you want to see the articles that also include "EEOC guidance." Scroll down a little more and click on "All states" (so you'll see the newsletter articles from attorneys across the country who wrote about this topic, and not just your home state).
Then, when you click "display results," you should see links to a screenful of different articles on the EEOC's new guidance -- from February 2003 newsletter issues alone. Can't get much more current than that! Call or e-mail me if you have any problems or questions. Hope this helps.
Tony Kessler, director of editorial
M. Lee Smith Publishers
(615) 661-0249 ext. 8068
>database, log into the system and click on the "HR Search Engine."
Tony,
Unfortunately we are not a subscriber. I can't seem to convince anyone of the worthiness of this site and the information therein. Thank-you for the suggestion though, it is much appreciated. If I can't get any answers elsewhere, I will send you an e-mail or call you.
This site has a ton of useful information that will help you find what you need, there are laws regarding english only policies. I would seek legal council before you decide to implement such policies. Good luck.
Given that you have a safety reason to require the English language in the work place, then management has the opportunity to require the team to learn a foreign lanuage, Let's see why don't we choose "Spanish" or "Angolian" or "French-Canadian".
We in the Swine world require one language and it is OINK-OINK, English is not understood by the most important animal in our working world, so we all learn their language. You would be surprised how our human senses can hear a "cough" and know a baby pig is sick, or the "squeal" when one has been sat upon by the MOM.
We have Hondurians, Mexicans, Southerners, Yankees, African-Americans, Columbian workers, and we do not make the language barrior an issue. We put 10 words matched by 10 Hispanic words and any "slang word that relates" on the office bulletin board and we attempt to learn these terms that represent something in the office. The team of 9 have learned to make do and draw pictures when it is necessary or we bring in a language speaker when safety issues are communicated.
It works, don't let HR get hung up in some office communication problem. If you are placed into the fray then hire an instructor and require the "Ugly American" to learn the necesary words to communicate with our "foreign language significat others" by stepping forward and learning something new and challenging.
MY thoughts, and I am a southern boy who has learned a little of several languages, but speak none as a English Man! Pork
Some states have regulations in this area, so you should check that out.
Saludos
Companies may require use of one language for work but how can you require (via policy) employees not to use a language at the lunch table or on the way out of the building? It is much better to have employees appreciate their differences as they learn how very much they are alike.