And played on every phone system as well.
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.
But my hispanic friends' grandparents HAD to learn and use English because in their day there was no "press 2 for Spanish".
We're spoon-feeding today's Spanish-speaking immigrants, and they're not assimilating as well as the Asians, for instance, who don't get the "press 2 for Chinese" option.
Agree one hundred percent...I had a translator translate my lease into Spanish...its been great for the bottom line.
Yes!! What you said!
I disagree to an extent...in parts of California, some businesses are catering to Asians by offering products in Mandarin or Japanese...
There just happen to be a lot more people who speak Spanish, thus the "press 2 for Spanish." This is good business, and has nothing to do with PC---and for the record, I hate PC.
Thanks.
Unselfconscious candor. At least you are honest. Did you really mean to say this?
I think it's a safe bet. Aren't citizenship tests in English?
Correct me if I'm wrong.
Citizenship tests can be taken in a foreign language. If the applicant has been in this country for a period of time, is over a certain age, and can prove (medically) that they have an inability to learn the English language, they can take the test is the native tongue.
Most people can get the medical proof by claiming they are too old to learn English.
On the flip side, my dad used this ruling to become a citizen. I assure you he knows more about US politics and the way government works that most Americans out there. He studied for almost a year daily before taking the test. Bought tapes with test questions and would sleep with the tape running all night. Learned via osmosis I guess.
The definition of "melting pot" includes the melting of an immigrant's language into English.
And played on every phone system as well.
We do too. Potato and leek soup, welsh cakes and tea. Unfortunately, we don't have a big Welsh population in Pocatello. The Cambrian Society in San Diego put on a nice St. David's Day lunch each year. We enjoyed invited guests playing harp and singing in Welsh. Many of us managed an impromptu Gymanfa Ganu with songs sung in Welsh and in parts. The Welsh Presbyterian Church in Venice (Los Angeles area) sponsors an Gymanfa Ganu annually and sponsors a Welsh choir from members all over Southern California.
My aunt is president of a Welsh organization in Des Moines, Iowa. I gave her GPS coordinates to my great great granfather's home in Ysbty Ystwyth. She traveled to Wales and visited the old house.
A very telling difference in San Diego Welsh community is that all of them are legal immigrants or U.S. citizens. Many of them waited for YEARS to emigrate to the United States and had to have sponsors and employment. There is a lottery at the INS for acceptance of applications to emigrate. Very different from jumping the Mexican border.
" Just because someone chooses to hold on to their culture and their language does not make them less American. Our diversity is what makes us great."
Welcome to FR.
The definition of "melting pot" includes the melting of an immigrant's language into English.
Yep, I think every cluture has brought useful loan words into English.
That's WORDS, not conversations.
So9
He sounds like an overwhelming asset to the country.
I wish more were this dedicated.
What? Can't you read English? If you can't understand this, you are in the wrong forum.
i'm in Texas and white/whatever so i'm a minority and should'nt speak out. however i think it is rude so i just scream ENGLISH and everyone quits talking. Problem solved
That IS the point. Thanks.
I agree with you. I'm so sick of hearing the "press X for English or press Z for Spanish".
That is the point, they powers that be do NOT WANT the poor hispanics to assimilate because that will hurt the democrat party.
It is the same INSANE reason the race baiters are pushing Ebonics.
There is nobody who wants to stop people from learning other languages. (every Greek Orthodox Church usually has a Greek School so the next generation can learn Greek and continue traditions. See My Big Fat Greek Wedding were in the end the little girl is going to Greek School like her mother did.)
I think you have too many who wish to make english the OPTIONAL language and not the mandatory language.
One poster is very right, in certain parts of miami attorneys must speak spanish just to function.
Are you from the Southwest? Have you heard of La Raza or Aztlan? That's racism.
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