Posted on 08/12/2005 6:25:58 AM PDT by jaydubya2
Some Chicago businesses post "Se Habla Espanol" signs to boast about their Spanish-speaking employees.
But two hair stylists said in a federal lawsuit Thursday that their former bosses at Supercuts posted a different sign:
"Speaking a language other than English is not only disrespectful, it's also prohibited."
Stylists say the notice was put up in 2003, directed at employees as Supercuts managers allegedly barred them from speaking Spanish anywhere at work -- including in the break room or other places outside the earshot of customers.
Supercuts says there is no such ban.
"We absolutely, vehemently deny the allegations and believe the evidence will show otherwise," attorney Davi Hirsch said Thursday.
EEOC on the case
The federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which joined in the lawsuit, argues that such a ban is a violation of the 1964 Civil Rights Act that prohibits employment discrimination based on national origin.
The EEOC, along with private attorney Kamran Memon, brought the lawsuit against Primps LLC and Management Advantage Group LLC, which own more than 20 Supercuts salons in the city and suburbs.
One of the stylists, Rosa Gonzalez, 54, of Chicago, said her bosses shot her dirty looks or would reprimand her if she spoke Spanish to co-workers while on break, or at other times, even when customers weren't around.
The ban was lifted, she said, only if a customer didn't know any English.
"I think it's not fair," said Gonzalez, who came to the United States 27 years ago from Guanajuato, Mexico. "Business[es] need to understand that we are free to speak our language."
No such rule, company says
Memon said Gonzalez and another stylist who filed the lawsuit, Blanca Sauceda, were reprimanded sometimes several times a week for speaking in Spanish on breaks. The two worked for the company at various locations for more than 10 years.
They ultimately quit at their Michigan Avenue location after they felt uncomfortable at work.
Memon said the two wouldn't challenge a policy that limits Spanish being spoken in front of English-speaking customers. But Memon said Gonzalez and Sauceda were told it was "ignorant" and "disrespectful" to speak Spanish at work.
EEOC trial attorney Ann Henry said the suit was brought after managers allegedly enforced a blanket ban at "more than one location."
But Hirsch, who represents the 20 Supercuts owned by Management Advantage Group, said no such ban exists and that the suggestion of one is ludicrous because Supercuts' work force is heavily Hispanic.
Hirsch said there is a written policy limiting language other than English.
"The goal of the policy was to speak essentially whatever language you chose in the lunchroom or on breaks, when you're not servicing customers," Hirsch said.
Hirsch questioned why the employees didn't raise concerns until after they left the company.
This sign ought to be posted in every business in this country.
how is telling someone they have to speak english employment discrimination? he's not saying that he's gonna fire you for being hispanic, just for speaking a foriegn language.. which i find to be obnoxiously rude.
Rather than ban this stuff, the best bet is for companies such as "Super Cuts" to simply record conversations, have them translated, and use them as a basis for firing the offending employees. Customers who had been subjected to the insults might well be invited in to bring action against the former employees.
There's simply no reason to let non-English speaking workers get away with things English speakers can be punished for doing.
I have to be honest here, I get annoyed when people speak Spanish around me. Yet, I think it sounds cool when my hair stylist speaks Russian to her friends. Maybe it's because Spanish, to me, is symbolic of a lack of regard for the laws of this country.
I know for a fact that my hairstylist came to this country legally and obtained her full citizenship. I have a habit of doubting the citizenship of anybody speaking Spanish.
"I think it's not fair," said Gonzalez, who came to the United States 27 years ago from Guanajuato, Mexico. "Business[es] need to understand that we are free to speak our language."
That says it all folks. These third world nomads do not want to assimilate, do not want to speak English, do not want to follow our way of life. How many times do I have to repeat it??????? SHIP THEM HOME NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Soon enough, idiots on FR will be defending these people like always.
AMEN BROTHER!!!!!!!!!!!!
A favorite band of mine back in the day was S.O.D. They had a best selling record"
S.O.D. - "Speak English or Die"
Well, I guess I am an idiot then...I think that is just about the dumbest business policy I have ever heard of...the idea is to attract as many customers as possible...not alienate them by banning their language...
I understand wanting to have employees speak a language that the customers speak, and that may be what is going on in the posted story...
But posting a sign where customers could read that Spanish is banned is downright bad business...in my humble opinion.
I see no reason why an employer can't have this rule. They own the business let them run it their way. If the people working there don't like it they can always quit.
BTW, I think a federal law should be passed to prevent anyone who doesn't speak fluid english to work at a drive through window. Trying to understand an accent over the intercom is almost impossible and that goes for phone calls also.
If I were the employer, I'd mandate English as a prerequisite for hiring. Period. And in MY place of business, the only time another language would be acceptable would be IF A CUSTOMER initiated the conversation.
Foreign language skills are handy sometimes. Only a fool lacks the ability or refuses to distinguish those times.
Mrs. Reb can vouch for that. She speaks accentless English and does not appear Hispanic, but is actually a native Spanish speaker. Most of the hibaros talking trash and filth in Spanish in front of her do not find out she understands them until she chews them out for being such pigs.
The question is, is your hairdresser hot?
That's not a bad policy...it should be all about what the customer wants...I own some apartment buildings and had my lease translated into Spanish...I increased occupancy by 4%...I am now over 96% on all three properties...CHA CHING!
That was well worth the $1000 I paid the translator.
The immigrant Spanish are the first significant group coming to Americato who largely refuse to learn English and thus are fast becoming the first group to destroy opportunities for their non-English fluent children.
There should not even be the need for a sign. It is obvious that they verbally asked these people to cut the nonsense and they ignored it, then they put up the sign.
We are in America. Speak English, that is the language. Not Spanish.
I do collection work for small businesses. You have no idea how badly small businesses get screwed when they do business with people who don't speak English. I have gotten to the point where I tell my clients almost not to do business with these people or at least hire full time staff conversant in these languages. Its kind of insane when you consider that English is the language of business worldwide, but no in many of our cities where Spanglish is more and more common.
I think you hit the nail on the head. As managers we are often confronted with such types of harrassment, yet if they are speaking a foreign language we're expect to realize what's going on! Enough is enough, I am not learning spanish to do my job, nor any other foreign language! When one moves out into the world of business, sales, and service there are certain things one is expected to do. And not being rude to other co-workers is one of them. Speaking a foreign tongue has the ability to destroy a team, rather than encourage it to build, work together, etc. My parents had to learn english to make it here, so should they. From a management standpoint there is nothing beneficial that comes from employees practice of speaking foreign languages at work(unless it is an essential function of the job).
All about the dollar. Wait till these people skip out on you and you try to collect. Good luck.
The English were the first to come here and refuse to learn the "native" language.
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