tell me if you think this is stupid

[bigvince]

my girlfriend was telling me the other day that at her work they don't allow people to speak diffrent languages while at work. now i could see if it was for buissness purposes but she was on a personal call! how can they restrict some one from speaking there native language if it doesn't have anything to do with thier buissness?:| doesn't that inhibit her freedom of expresion and therefore make that policy unconstitutional?


has anybody had any experiance with this?

 

[Locutus of Board]

I think that is stupid.

 

[denali]

No, how would they know she isn't giving out vital company info. She always has the choice to quit if she does not like it. Why is she making personal calls at work anyway?

 

[Wangel]

Just like a dress code, a company has this right. If you don't like it, quit.

 

[bigvince]

Wangle,


is that true? can a company just make up rules at random and enforce them? don't they have to take into account an employees rights?

 

[Bakwetu]

Dats stoopid
"No, how would they know she isn't giving out vital company info." what companies would be that paranoid? Also that would imply they are doing some serious spying on the staff.

 

[konichiwa]

Sure it's fair. You're using their phones aren't you? Same debate that happened when software companies released programs that would let you monitor everything that is happening on every computer in your office network. The employees say it's an invasion of privacy, but so long as you use the company's resources, computers and internet access to do whatever it is your doing your privacy rights get kicked in the ass.

 

[denali]

Bakwetu, Many companies monitor phone calls and keystrokes that their employees make. You and I may not like it but it happens.

 

[bigvince]

Konichiwa,


well i'll G for the "it's our stuff" thing but i still don't think that a company should be able to mandate what language you can or cannot speak. and it's not only the phones they won't even let you talk to another co-worker unless it's in english.

 

[konichiwa]

What kind of company is it? I mean if it's Joe-Bob's Ceramics then maybe that's unreasonable, but if it's Coca-Cola or some company in a very competitive market? It seems reasonable to me.

 

[Angrymarshmello]

It's not fair but like koni said, they can do whatever they want.

 

[bigvince]

it's a civil engineering/arcitectual firm. i don't see that they have alot of secrets to keep but they are designing the new Soldier field (home of DABEARS)...

 

[compuwiz1]

Since the workplace is for "Work", they are well within their bounds to call that unacceptable. It is the employer's business, where they work, not their own. Were I the owner of the company, that'd be my policy also. People who know how to speak English and choose to speak their own language, in such an environment, come across as rude and disrespectful.

 

[bigvince]

People who know how to speak English and choose to speak their own language, in such an environment, come across as rude and disrespectful.


employers who don't allow people to speak thier native languages casualy come off as raceist and intolerant.....so what's your point.

 

[Anybody]

I'm glad my company doesn't force me to speak their native tongue... I would have a horrible time speaking Hebrew.

Its not nice but its business.

 

[compuwiz1]

Does she speak English? That's my point. I am hardly a racist. I am married to an Asian woman. I demand that she speak English in front of me, as well as our other American company. That way we are all on the same communication level. I have no problem with her speaking here native language when with her friends and relatives exclusively. I have been in environments where people doing the opposite, are belittling their boss, company, as well as obviously slacking off. Speaking a foreign language on the phone from work, could very well be taken that the person is talking about things with the outside that they should not be talking about.

 

[Gloaras]

Don't know what the laws are in the US... but is there laws on official languages per state? I would think that in the south-west and places like florida there would be since that are lots of people who speak only spanish. The law in canada is that you are allowed to speak the languages that your provincial governement recognizes has official. I would think it would be similar in the US if you have such laws on official languages....

 

[bigvince]

i didn't call you raceist so i'm sorry if you took it that way ...


she was on the phone with the baby sitter making arrangements to pick up our daughter, the baby sitter doesn't speak english only spanish so i don't see how that applies. and do you have that much influence on your wife that she does that what you tell her to and demand/forbid her to do stuff...my girlfriend would kick my ass up and down the street if i told her something like that.

 

[Stealth1024]

"...what companies would be that paranoid..."

Apple!!!

 

[HoopDogg]

not being allowed to speak a native language (cause I cant spell the word of that organ in your mouth) would really suck. You have to trust your employees, but at a larger corporation, I could understand their paranoia cause everyone is just a number to them.

That's just IMHO.

 

[DABANSHEE]

She should just do it any way, as if they'd sack her for speaking (for example) Italian to her Italian grandmother who can't speak English. Besides if they have a official policy of not speaking foreign languages, just deny it, & say you were speaking expiranto or a native American language, neither of which are foreign languages. Anyway unless all here workmates are stooges whos's going give a fuk anyway.

Anyway half the fun of having a job is breaking the bosses rules & getting away with it.

Besides all a rule like that is there for, is to stop all the Mexicans from yakking away to each other when the're spose to be working & so the boss knows the're not 'dissing' him/her right in front of him without him knowing.

 

[BoberFett]

A company doesn't have to let you make personal calls. Consider it nice that they even allow that.

Their time and resources, their rules. It's that simple.