Owning a business and "forcing" english speaking?

[Vipergrün]

I do not know spanish. If I start a business, can I enforce that applicants MUST be able to speak english?

I see postings all the time requiring bi-lingual (not english and french BTW), just wondering if it would work the other way.

I'd be concerned about safety and information being lost in translation.

Or would I have the ACLU trying to shut me down?

I am NOT saying I would not hire hispanics, etc, but simply require candidates read, write, speak, and understand english as a condition of employment.

Please don't turn this racist. That's not what it's about.

Thoughts?

[lane912]

it is a requirement for several positions in my building.
we have imigrants from several parts of the world ad they all speak english-

[JJ 911SC]

Originally Posted by Vipergrün

... I see postings all the time requiring bi-lingual (not english and french)...

Lol... Yeah those were the days. Now it's Spanish and English if you are lucky.

Bonne Chance

[Joe Bob]

Workplace English-Only Rules | LegalMatch Law Library

Can My Employer Require Me To Speak Only English at Work?
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) allows English-only rules in the workplace, as long as such a requirement has a business-related purpose and does not apply during an employee's break period. Many employers are advised not to set unnecessary language-related rules due to laws that protect workers from discrimination based on national origin; and, in many cases, there is a strong connection between language and national origin.

[mfiazzo]

Gino's steaks in Philadelphia tried that a couple of years ago. The City sued him and made him take the sign down that read. "Please order in English"

[RWebb]

Require everyone to have an Aussie accent

[javadog]

Whether or not an applicant speaks English is probably secondary to whether you decide to hire someone that does not speak English, no? Seems easy to me...

JR

[Bill Douglas]

Originally Posted by RWebb

Require everyone to have an Aussie accent

That's discriminating against us kiwis.

[javadog]

Originally Posted by RWebb

Require everyone to have an Aussie accent

Originally Posted by Bill Douglas

That's discriminating against us kiwis.

Nah, we can't tell the difference. Y'all look alike, too.

JR

[Don Ro]

Originally Posted by Vipergrün

Or would I have the ACLU trying to shut me down?

Please don't turn this racist. That's not what it's about.

Thoughts?

If you contacted the ACLU, I wonder if they'd tell you the truth. Hmmm...
.
From where would the racism come in this discussion?

[Noah930]

The government requires its employees to speak English. I do a lot of work in workers comp, and I can't recall a single city, county, or federal employee ever being non-English speaking. I just assumed that speaking English was a job requirement.

[lane912]

purely a safety concern-
help in any other language is not help-

[Joe Bob]

Nothing pssesoff an Anglo more than walking in on two people speaking another language which is then followed by a snicker and a side long glance...

THAT scenario is covered by the EEOC....and it's legal to do so and they can not be penalized. It's a break area.

Smacking the snickerer upside their punkin' head is NOT legal.....though is common.

[jyl]

Yes, you can hire only employees fluent and literate in the English language.

[Racerbvd]

Well, I don't see how you could legally hire someone who DOESN'T speak English
Funny, other Countries, you have to learn the language, if you want to live there, and with the English requirement, why do states provide Drivers License handbooks in multiple languages???
I have found that when panhandlers try to bum money off me, replying in German is one way to avoid conversation.
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And yes, I have use this technique many times..

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[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by RWebb

Require everyone to have an Aussie accent

You can call me Bruce!

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by Don Ro

From where would the racism come in this discussion?

Left field somewhere.

A private business has a lot of latitude. If I can't communicate with them, the interview does not really have anywhere to go.

That place in Philly would be okay if they took down their order in English sign and just did not serve anyone who failed to order in English.

Here in America, folks speak some form of English. If you don't, I assume you are not legal to work here.

[Rick Lee]

Originally Posted by Tobra

That place in Philly would be okay if they took down their order in English sign and just did not serve anyone who failed to order in English.

Pat's, which is right next to Geno's, has a sign on how to order, which also says something to the effect, "If you don't get it right the first time, you can practice while waiting at the back of the line again." The locals know how it works and it's not real different from the Soup Nazi in Seinfeld.

[Bill Douglas]

Originally Posted by javadog

Nah, we can't tell the difference. Y'all look alike, too.

JR

LOL.

Some Aussies have been a bit sneaky and are learning how to talk like us. Oh, we are handsomer if that's any help.

[aigel]

Completely legal to ask for good communication skills in English and to verify they exist before extending an offer of employment.

There are many companies out there that sell entry tests you can put your candidates through. If they don't pass the reading comprehension test, you can tell them they did not meet the job requirement.

It isn't discrimination. Many jobs require communication. If work instructions are in English, workers have to be able to read and follow them.

HTH,

George