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[AlohaDawg]

Mi entrepeni mem makisimumo!

::riverencio::

Ahem

As a SoCal guy, I can't confirm any laws exist that detail the languages spoken in front of the customer.  The only example I can think of that this could come into play is if a conversation occurred in another language in which the intent was to defraud/screw over a client.  In this area bi-tri-lingual skills are not often required but often sought after.  A large portion of our immigrant population is hispanic or asian and being able to communicate with the service sector is a plus.  I myself am adding as much Vietnamese to my vocabulary as possible to go along with my rudimentary but functional spanish.  Part of my job is to train and explain process to line level workers.

I have the summary of a decision from ninth circuit (I think) around here because we had a question about whether it was appropriate for our staff (there are 14 languages represented) to be required to speak English at work. Basically, Englsih-language only policies are not legally defensible in the workplace and constitute a civil-rights violation even in workplaces where there is no direct customer service.

[CortJstr]

I have the summary of a decision from ninth circuit (I think) around here because we had a question about whether it was appropriate for our staff (there are 14 languages represented) to be required to speak English at work. Basically, Englsih-language only policies are not legally defensible in the workplace and constitute a civil-rights violation even in workplaces where there is no direct customer service.

What if a state passes an "official language" law? I don't think any have them (outside of New Mexico's 2) but I remember hearing of a few states proposing them.

[cellardoor]

I realise i'm alarmingly on topic here but...

Hurrah!
I love you Molly!

That is all.

[arlucasinc]

I used to be the same way with Wendy's spicy chicken until they added it permanently.

Sounds like someone hasn't tried the new Wild Mountain Spicy Chicken Sandwich yet. Good stuff. Colby jack cheese, bacon, and a spicy pepper sauce.

Hells yeah.

Only available for a limited time.

[CortJstr]

I'm still waiting for them to bring back the 1/2 pound italian burger with mozerella and marinara.

And they apparently just discontinued fried chicken but who goes to Wendy's for a leg+thigh anyway?

[AlohaDawg]

I have the summary of a decision from ninth circuit (I think) around here because we had a question about whether it was appropriate for our staff (there are 14 languages represented) to be required to speak English at work. Basically, Englsih-language only policies are not legally defensible in the workplace and constitute a civil-rights violation even in workplaces where there is no direct customer service.

What if a state passes an "official language" law? I don't think any have them (outside of New Mexico's 2) but I remember hearing of a few states proposing them.

You could pass that as mostly a symbolic gesture, but there is a whole section of Federal Law( and I forget which title it falls under but I imagine it's civil rights) that requires that government programs (education, health, revenue, elections, etc.) must either have materials, translators or a language service available in order to offer similar services to all citizens regardless of their primary language. It is possible that this applies most specifically to Federally funded programs (I'm not sure), but most States get Federal funding for health and for education at least.

[CortJstr]

I have the summary of a decision from ninth circuit (I think) around here because we had a question about whether it was appropriate for our staff (there are 14 languages represented) to be required to speak English at work. Basically, Englsih-language only policies are not legally defensible in the workplace and constitute a civil-rights violation even in workplaces where there is no direct customer service.

What if a state passes an "official language" law? I don't think any have them (outside of New Mexico's 2) but I remember hearing of a few states proposing them.

You could pass that as mostly a symbolic gesture, but there is a whole section of Federal Law( and I forget which title it falls under but I imagine it's civil rights) that requires that government programs (education, health, revenue, elections, etc.) must either have materials, translators or a language service available in order to offer similar services to all citizens regardless of their primary language. It is possible that this applies most specifically to Federally funded programs (I'm not sure), but most States get Federal funding for health and for education at least.

Interesting. Federal funding makes a nice catch-all to enforce rules normally beyond the powers of congress. But it only makes sense to provide people with information in their strong language so they actually understand it.

[Formica]

V, a few months from now You and I will be spending all our time in a modular building furnished with plastic tables'n'chairz.  We'll pitifully stumble up to the central counter and plead with the powerless plebe for a modicum of synthetic porcine-approximating satisfaction.  After a sufficient level of humiliation the under-supervisor will grant us a hit of our pseudo-smoky grease-laden teat.  In humiliating exchange we must agree to swab out Ronald's Filthy McHoles.  Despite the overwhelming despair we still do it.  Fuck.  McRibaddiction Sucks.

This is a thing of filthy, preprocessed, artificial smoke flavored beauty

[AlohaDawg]

I have the summary of a decision from ninth circuit (I think) around here because we had a question about whether it was appropriate for our staff (there are 14 languages represented) to be required to speak English at work. Basically, Englsih-language only policies are not legally defensible in the workplace and constitute a civil-rights violation even in workplaces where there is no direct customer service.

What if a state passes an "official language" law? I don't think any have them (outside of New Mexico's 2) but I remember hearing of a few states proposing them.

You could pass that as mostly a symbolic gesture, but there is a whole section of Federal Law( and I forget which title it falls under but I imagine it's civil rights) that requires that government programs (education, health, revenue, elections, etc.) must either have materials, translators or a language service available in order to offer similar services to all citizens regardless of their primary language. It is possible that this applies most specifically to Federally funded programs (I'm not sure), but most States get Federal funding for health and for education at least.

Interesting. Federal funding makes a nice catch-all to enforce rules normally beyond the powers of congress. But it only makes sense to provide people with information in their strong language so they actually understand it.

Indeed; a Federal Civil Rights case based on Equal Opportunity would be academic if a State were to try to go English-Only.

[Mantonio]

So anyway, this is a question for California residents.  I heard that a law was passed there that prohibited foodservice emloyees (or maybe service industry employees in general) from speaking to each other in Spanish in front of an English language speaking customer.  In fact, I heard a story about some dickhead who had some poor kid fired because of it.

Pat! Don't wear a cape!

[Bozack]

Sounds like someone hasn't tried the new Wild Mountain Spicy Chicken Sandwich yet. Good stuff. Colby jack cheese, bacon, and a spicy pepper sauce.

Hells yeah.

Only available for a limited time.

Had that today. I found it ZESTY!

[mudokon]

those jack in the box tacos are actually really tasty

[Bozack]

Wow. Takin' it back to the old skool.

[AlohaDawg]

And this is why I purposely lock threads at a certain time after the last post, so I'm not reading a thread from last December to find out what someone is talking about.

Have some dignity, people.