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.
I was a regular customer at the La Salsa restaurant in Mira Mesa. I knew the staff. One day they starting addressing me in Spanish. We had conducted business exclusively in English for almost 3 years. When they refused to speak English, I ordered my food in Welsh. They looked really perplexed. Their understanding of Welsh was less than my understanding of Spanish. I suggested we both function better in English. End of problem.
Hey, my wife is Welsh...Pembroke!
Yeah...I think when the chips are down, we all know we're all Americans.
English is language of the business world if you exclusively do business in the United States. Even then not really. If you want to target your entire market, you should consider the portion that does not speak English.
I have to disagree with you on those who speak another language and learn English have a greater advantage than the other way around.
Look at most of the classifieds in major metropolitan areas. You see statements as "bilingual (English/Spanish required) Portuguese a plus."
It's whatever you would like it to be. I've no idea what point you are trying to make.
Cool it.
Ydy chi yn siarad Cymraeg?
Good points...try practicing law in Miami without a working knowledge of Spanish...
My apologies.
Oh boy...I am going to have to cut and paste and have her answer...definitely do not speak/read...
If it helps, we celebrate St. David's day,,,
A 6 guard on top and a 2 on the sides is hard to mess up too badly.<<<
LOL!
And me, I turn fifty this year..somewhere along the way to that age, I quit caring what others thought about my hair!
Unselfconscious candor. At least you are honest. Did you really mean to say this?
Even in your example, English is a given.
I stand my ground, you've made my case.
They shop keeping is informing the public that Spanish is the language of their business, english is secondary in that American city's business.
Even then, in those establishments it is not unusual to find NOBODY speaks funtional english.
I don't find that offensive...though it is clearly (potentially) bad for business.
"Even in your example, English is a given. "
But so is Spanish. Don't be so short-sighted as to believe that Spanish is going away. When Hispanics account for the largest growing minority (recently a majority in Texas), yo can rest assured that major corporations are not going to ignore that demographic.
If it takes Spanish commercials and signs that say "Se Habla Espanol", you know smart businesses are going to do it. That is why you hear the prompts press 1 for English or press 2 for Spanish.
Actually, yes. That is a pretty safe assumption in Atlanta these days.
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