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.
How many hispanic kids do you know that don't want to learn English? Trust me...give it a generation...they'll learn. It's always the first wave that takes awile (or never gets it).
I come across many hispanics who have been here for decades yet have made no attempt to learn English. Italians who are like that are no better, or is anyone else.
Additionally, Italians never ever demanded that America change its ways and customs to accomodate them. You simply cannot say the same for immigrants of today coming from South of the Border.
If I were to go to France, I don't believe everyone there should accomodate me. My expectation is that I accomodate their ways.
Again, you are talking about hispanics who came "here" from "there." It may have been several years ago...to them, if they grew up there, it was yesterday.
Its the kids who assimilate...they are the ones that grow up baseball Yankees fans (not soccer Aztecs fans). They are the ones that learn the language...trust me...it happened with the Germans, the Italians, Russians, Ukes, Poles, and the Welsh...it will most definitely happen with the hispanics...
I don't agree with that at all. Why would it be rude for two people on the street to conduct their conversation in Japanese, for example?
The point is that if we weaken the English language by making everything in Spanish or other languages, there is less of a need for these people to assimilate. Voting, Driver's License Tests, etc etc, it makes it too easy not to have to assimilate.
Immigrants in the past had to go on the fast track because all these cruches were non existent, which was a good thing.
Isn't it just special that an act which purported to just end discrimination against Southern Blacks is now being used to create a second official language in our nation, for the benefit of people who for the most part are not even citizens.
I think this applies to business settings.
No kidding. We are lowering our standards to accomodate those who are hear to colonize not assimilate.
The sooner people realize that the sooner they will stop arguing in favor of nonsense that weakens our country.
Hahahaha!!!.....I wonder if smoking is "allowed". Nobody "owns" a business, just like no one "owns" their house. Welcome to the USSA.
FMCDH(BITS)
I disagree...in the 20s and 30s, if you lived in the area of Philly that my grandparents lived, everybody spoke Russian...there was little need to learn English for the day to day grind...still all the kids learned English.
That stated, I agree with you, the Spanish kids should be taught English in the schools...that is a must. And I think the "official" language should be English, and that this should be codified (which, to my knowledge, it currently is not).
Nope, but it would be nice to have someone you could understand when you order a burger, wouldn't it:)
What a joke we have become.
Like I said, in such a setting, it should be up to the employer to set the rules.
I dn't know if ozarkgirl meant that it was rude to use a language other than English anywhere in public.
Well, to be fair, most of the native-born Americans who do this job could use some remedial training in the English language.
I think you made my point. Immigrants of yesterday were very different than the immigrant of today.
Although my ancestors came from Italy, I consider myself American 100%. I have never referred to Italy as "my country" . I am sure you have heard this phrase before and understand what I am saying. My allegiance is to the USA only, not Italy, not anyone or anywhere else. You know I am correct when I say the same cannot be said of many many of the newer immigrants.
Why do we elect Republicans or so-called Conservatives when the same Marxist apparatchiks just keep their jobs year after year and policies never move even an inch to the right?
So far this term, GWB is definately not a conservative. So don't expect much.
No kidding...a real bad joke.
I have updated my FMCDH (From My Cold Dead Hands) sign-off with the addition of (BITS).....Blood In The Streets, which I foresee coming soon, due to the enormous increase of the Marxist progressive movement being shoved down the throat of this failing REPUBLIC through the Judicial tyranny of fiat law, the passing of unconstitutional laws by the Legislative and Executive branches of our government and the enormous tax burden placed upon the average American to support unconstitutional programs put forth by Marxist ideology.
I do not advocate revolution. I only think of what I foresee.
FMCDH(BITS)
No, you are making my point...
To clairify:
Yesterday's **FIRST WAVE** immigrants thought of their home country as their first country. Hence the Irish Catholic church a block down the street from the Italian Catholic Church. Their children and descendants (you) assimilated much more easily.
Today's **First Wave** immigrants are they same as yesterdays. The still think of the motherland as their real country. Their kids, like the others will think of the US as their country (it is where they were born, and they will feel comfortable here). It is they way it works. I see it with my residents and I am sure of it.
Um...what?
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