English Only At The WorkPlace...WTF?!

[mechadylan]

I'm a waiter at a restaurant; although I was born in the U.S., my first language is Spanish. All of the cooks at my work place speak Spanish and it is the defacto language in the BOH (back of the house.) We speak Spanish, not to inhibit or exclude others, but rather to expedite orders and correct errors.

Today, we (servers) were specifically instructed to ONLY speak to the cooks in English. Apparently, one of our cooks let loose a few foul words in Spanish and a customer complained stating that, "there's too much foul Spanish words flying around because THEY feel that no one is listening to/understanding them."

I'm all for a cleaner speaking work environment, but is it wrong that they isolated "Spanish?" I have no problems speaking English to the cooks; shit, they kinda enjoy it. But I feel somehow violated. There are multiple managers that constantly converse in Tagalog because of their Phillipino background, yet Spanish is apparently off-limits. Thoughts, tempers?!?!?

 

[Foxi4]

Perhaps the owners of the establishment want to know what their employees are talking about, have you considered that?

 

[geoflcl]

Those measures sure don't make sense to me! A few slip-ups, and they condemn the whole language? And at the risk of slowing down communication, as well! Overkill, to say the least. English certainly has its fair share of salty cursewords as well, and what's stopping you folks from using those?

A simple "no cursing" rule would very well have sufficed, I'd say! :'D

 

[Pong20302000]

it is considered rude to speak another language in a public place of work in the UK, if dealing with the public
privately it is ok & behind staff only area's where the public are not allowed

it is to make the public not feel out of place

they may be enforcing it to try and stop people spilling into the wrong language when dealing with the public, due to the chef making a mistake, but he may be enforced as the public may approach the kitchen to see food or to talk to the chef, due to a hatch it can be considered a public place also

 

[Foxi4]

it is considered rude to speak another language in a public place of work in the UK, if dealing with the public
privately it is ok & behind staff only area's where the public are not allowed

it is to make the public not feel out of place

they may be enforcing it to try and stop people spilling into the wrong language when dealing with the public, due to the chef making a mistake, but he may be enforced as the public may approach the kitchen to see food or to talk to the chef, due to a hatch it can be considered a public place also

Technically the U.S. has no official language stated in the federal law, but yes, English is conscidered the de-facto "official" language and it should be somewhat natural for Americans to use it in their workplace.

 

[Snailface]

I wonder how you feel about GBAtemp being an English-only forum then...

But I think a better solution for your management would have been simply to enforce no-swearing rather than risk offending a worker's heritage (or ask them to speak quietly). Its simply the best way to keep everybody happy.

 

[Foxi4]

I wonder how you feel about GBAtemp being an English-only forum then...

But I think a better solution for your management would have been simply to enforce no-swearing rather than risk offending a worker's heritage (or ask them to speak quietly). Its simply the best way to keep everybody happy.

A workplace is not a place where you practice your heritage - it's a place where you work. Your herritage and background don't matter, really - if your employer demands English for whatever reason, English it is.

 

[mechadylan]

Perhaps the owners of the establishment want to know what their employees are talking about, have you considered that?

Riiiiighhhht. Because NO ONE ever talks negatively about their superiors. Isolating a specific language is "bothersome" to say the least.

 

[Foxi4]

Riiiiighhhht. Because NO ONE ever talks negatively about their superiors. Isolating a specific language is "bothersome" to say the least.

It's what your employer wants though. It may make communication between the staff members more difficult but it will facilitate communication between the staff and the owners and customers and the employer finds that more important.

 

[Snailface]

A workplace is not a place where youI practice your heritage - it's a place where you work. Your heritage and background doesn't matter, really - if your employer demands English for whatever reason, English it is.

I'm not debating right or wrong here, just promoting diplomacy.

 

[mechadylan]

I'm not debating right or wrong here, just promoting diplomacy.

I'm not debating right, wrong or diplomacy for that matter. Customers are gonna hear what they wanna hear; inb4 "dongle."

 

[Foxi4]

I'm not debating right or wrong here, just promoting diplomacy.

Oh, I know that. I was merely saying that the OP appears to be upset about something that I personally would just "accept". This isn't about herritage, convenience or anything of the sort - it's about being professional at your workplace.

 

[mechadylan]

Oh, I know that. I was merely saying that the OP appears to be upset about something that I personally would just "accept". This isn't about herritage, convenience or anything of the sort - it's about being professional at your workplace.

Nope, not upset at all. I had nothing to do with the "new rule." I am no longer "allowed" to speak to my cooks in our native tongues, and I/they will adjust accordingly. It's just stupid.

it is considered rude to speak another language in a public place of work in the UK, if dealing with the public
privately it is ok & behind staff only area's where the public are not allowed

it is to make the public not feel out of place

they may be enforcing it to try and stop people spilling into the wrong language when dealing with the public, due to the chef making a mistake, but he may be enforced as the public may approach the kitchen to see food or to talk to the chef, due to a hatch it can be considered a public place also

It is considered rude to answer in a different language to an elder if you can answer in the language in which the question is proposed. No?

 

[Pong20302000]

It is considered rude to answer in a different language to an elder if you can answer in the language in which the question is proposed. No?

you be expected in workplaces eyes to not understand her (even if you did), because they only reason this would arise is that if the elderly person knew you and that you could speak the language she spoke, and would be considered a private/personal chat, which is not allowed during your working hours

you are only allowed to speak in a different language if the head/boss man in charge asks for you to so that a customer can be helped as they struggle to speak English, but you have to be asked to do this as a favor to the company

 

[geoflcl]

...if your employer demands English for whatever reason, English it is.

Ahdunno, I think it's perfectly understandable to be dissatisfied with a decision if the reasoning is crummy.

In this case, it seems to me that the employer's reason for enforcing English was a bit of an inelegant one. After all, the customer's complaint wasn't about the language spoken as much as it was about hearing vulgarities in a restaurant. If you get rid of the vulgarity, what's the harm in speaking Spanish behind-the-scenes when it's to expedite productivity?

It's what your employer wants though. It may make communication between the staff members more difficult but it will facilitate communication between the staff and the owners and customers and the employer finds that more important.

You're right, but I still think it's a bit needless.

As far as I know from what mechadylan has told us, the only justification given when the employer banned Spanish was a single customer complaint: that they were hearing Spanish expletives. As such, communication between customers and owners was just fine, regardless of the workers speaking Spanish behind-the-scenes. At least, that's what it seems from the original post!

But if it's true that the workers can speak in English just fine to customers and the owners, getting rid of Spanish in its entirety (and therefore possibly reducing efficiency) seems like a drastic measure when all the workers would have to do is stop cursing

Of course, at the end of the day, it's best not to make too much of a fuss about it if the new rule doesn't mess things up too much, or if you think complaining would make the higher-ups angry. However, if your boss is generally okay with well-meaning complaints from workers (which I realize might be a bit of a stretch for some ), I'd say it's worth voicing your concerns! Just be civil, and don't risk getting fired

(Heck, it feels like I know what I'm talking about, but if you think I'm completely wrong, please feel free to steer me the right way!)

 

[mechadylan]

you be expected in workplaces eyes to not understand her (even if you did), because they only reason this would arise is that if the elderly person knew you and that you could speak the language she spoke, and would be considered a private/personal chat, which is not allowed during your working hours

you are only allowed to speak in a different language if the head/boss man in charge asks for you to so that a customer can be helped as they struggle to speak English, but you have to be asked to do this as a favor to the company

Negative. I will communicate with my customers BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY. Whether it be English, Spanish, Pig-Latin or sign language. I have a head/boss; and their protocol dictates that I relate their request to my cooks. Kaizen!

 

[Pong20302000]

Negative. I will communicate with my customers BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY. Whether it be English, Spanish, Pig-Latin or sign language. I have a head/boss; and their protocol dictates that I relate their request to my cooks. Kaizen!

im just informing you of wha tthe UK laws are -_-
not about USA or you in specific

 

[mechadylan]

I appreciate all of the input, guise; but understand my pov. I've essentially been asked to write down orders with my left hand. Where's the benefit?!?!?!

 

[nukeboy95]

I appreciate all of the input, guise; but understand my pov. I've essentially been asked to write down orders with my left hand. Where's the benefit?!?!?!

left hand? now thats too far

 

[Pong20302000]

I appreciate all of the input, guise; but understand my pov. I've essentially been asked to write down orders with my left hand. Where's the benefit?!?!?!

politeness
so that when high ups check your orders they understand what you have written
it just seems like ignorance as you can speak and write in English and the business is English, but you are choosing not to, its the company's choice, not yours, there the ones paying you and there paid by the customers