Speaking another language: workplace

Lise · Feb 14 09 07:00

I would like to know as a Canadian citizen, what are my rights to speaking another language in my workplace? I'm just curious to know because my co-worker was told not to speak another language to the students because it is offensive to those around her. I'm really annoyed with this because I cherish other languages and think it is wonderful if you can speak another language. It should be encouraged... not the other way around.

On the other hand, I understand that this may offend some people and I know it is irritating to some people who cannot understand what is being said. However, Canada is a land of cultural diversity and we should learn to accept each other's cultural diversity.

I guess I'm asking...... what's my right as a Canadian citizen if I want to express something other than English? Can they fire you for speaking another language? Is telling someone to not speak a language other than English considered a violation of human rights and a form of discrimination?

Or am I just nuts? I printed out the Multicultural Act of Canada to show my supervisor on Monday. Do you think I'm going too far?

P.C. · Feb 14 09 07:33

My thoughts are, that it has nothing to do with being a Canadian citizen or rights....I simply find it discourteous. To me, it amounts to the same thing as being in a situation where people are whispering to each other right in front of you.

Having employees who can speak other languages is surely a benefit to any workplace...but in my opinion, should be used to communicate with clients....not amongst each other in front of those who don't.

49er · Feb 14 09 08:24

Unless your job is to socialise with the clients such as a hostess in a bar, sales person, etc. you should stick to the language your employer asks you to speak

Orik · Feb 14 09 08:56

I must agree. as with the above posters thoughts. Unless you are dealing with a client, or work in a entirely second language work place. English should be considered the language to use for all discussion while on that employers site.

When I am working, I work more than a few warehouse sites, These warehouses are almost entirely populated by Cantonese or Mandarin speaking employees. Sometimes English is spoken, so when delivery's come in, most of the drivers are Cantonese or Mandarin speaking, though there are just as many English speaking delivery drivers. most of the time translators are not needed. At times a translator is needed. so a fair bit of time and a persons patience is lost, while a translator is tracked down.

At times my job can be extremely difficult, not to mention very frustrating> Mostly it is when I am trying to explain a security issue, often i find their is no one on site for translation and my Cantonese is extremely limited, thus a fair bit of pantomiming occurs.

As a English speaking person I do find that sites, that do not have a translator on hand to be very rude and discourteous, considering some of the employees on these sites have lived and worked in Canada in excess of 20 years.

The fact that these people work for a job site that is entirely Cantonese or Mandarin speaking has made them not even bother to learn the local language. I find it very sad, that most of those site employee's do not speak English or they speak only very limited English. How can they communicate quickly in emergency situations.

just my 2 cents.

Lise · Feb 15 09 08:16

Thank you for everyone's opinion.

It's just that she was caught in a situation where someone asked her to explain something to a student. My co-worker came from the same country as the student so she just began talking in her own language. I wasn't there but if I had been there, it wouldn't have bothered me at all. It just boggles my mind that it should bother people at all.

I come from a diversed background where I understand the need to speak another language. You grow up with that language and now you're surrounded by English speakers all the time, sometimes it's just nice to practise your language when you can. It isn't meant to offend people but it's a chance to connect with people, to feel part of your community and to relate to a part of you that you've forced to give up.

Expressing yourself in another form shouldn't be criminal.

49er · Feb 15 09 10:41

Lise wrote:
.....I come from a diversed background where I understand the need to speak another language. You grow up with that language and now you're surrounded by English speakers all the time, sometimes it's just nice to practise your language when you can. It isn't meant to offend people but it's a chance to connect with people, to feel part of your community and to relate to a part of you that you've forced to give up.

[/DIV]
No one is forced.........like they say, if you don't like the conditions, you can move on.

Expressing yourself in another form shouldn't be criminal.

What if a fellow employee came to work dressed and madeup like a punk rocker or is a racist and insulting all the minorities in the place. Would you object?[/DIV]

P.C. · Feb 15 09 11:18

I think, that the person who told her it was 'offensive' is incorrect. It is not offensive.

I just wanted to clarify, that I in no way think it's 'criminal'. I don't think it's wrong.....or even slightly offensive. I'm just saying that...from the point of view of the person in the room who does not speak the language being used, it can be perceived as discourteous....and I don't think that implies, that that person doesn't embrace diversity.

Lise · Feb 15 09 04:01

Of course, I'd object if that person come to work and issue racist comments but this is very different from expressing racist comments. It's only speaking another language and by no mean intended to be offensive to anyone. That's the difference there.

If my co-worker decides to wear something punk style to work, I'd wouldn't say anything. In fact, I'd like to see that happen because I feel that work is too sterile at times. We need diversion, need a newer fresher outlook on life.... but that's another story.

I can understand that speaking in another language can be seen as discourteous to those around them. But it's never meant to be. I want to embrace cultural diversity, celebrate it in every way I can because it's the difference in people is what makes each and everyone unique. I just wish that people (at my workplace, not here) would just let it be. We are an institute filled with so many people from so many background whom are talented dentists who deserve so much more respect. If we can speak another language, why not? I wish I could speak fluent Cantonese or French or whatever.[/DIV]

49er · Feb 15 09 05:07

I do understand where you are coming from but your work place is a professional environment and a public institution.......its not the fish market. If your employer embrace what you think is a possitive what is there for a coworker to practice what is positive to him or her but an anoyance to you.

P.C. · Feb 15 09 05:39

I'm not seeing the connection, between speaking the language that is understood by all, and not embracing cultural diversity....in this particular situation. Take the foreign language out of the picture for a moment and substitute it with a 'jargon' that wasn't the jargon associated with your profession, and familiar to only a few. If someone asked you to do something, using that jargon that everyone knew but you....would you find that to be a problem ?

It isn't about being able to or not able to speak another language.....who doesn't wish they could. I know I do. But I also know, that if I were to carry on a conversation in Swedish with a couple other people in a room, with a person standing there that didn't understand, I think it would be reasonable for that one person who didn't speak it, to feel like we were being a little rude. I would not conclude from that...that person did not embrace cultural diversity. I would conclude that she felt like she was being excluded from what was going on. [img style="CURSOR: pointer" onclick=url(this.src); src="http://www.cheesebuerger.de/images/smilie/konfus/n020.gif" border=0]

purelife · Feb 15 09 07:30

Lise wrote:
I would like to know as a Canadian citizen, what are my rights to speaking another language in my workplace? I'm just curious to know because my co-worker was told not to speak another language to the students because it is offensive to those around her. I'm really annoyed with this because I cherish other languages and think it is wonderful if you can speak another language. It should be encouraged... not the other way around.

I've never heard of "rights" to speaking another language in a workplace. If people in your workplace speaks primarily English and English is the communicated language, spoken and written, then it doesn't make sense to me to speak another language to students. I speak Cantonese and I find it discourteous when someone else is speaking Cantonese around me at work (even though I understand it). I know my colleagues who don't speak Cantonese or Russian don't appreciate that they are talking together in another language.

It's different if the chit-chat is in another language outside of work but when your Employer expects everyone to speak English, then speak it. I feel that it is rude when another colleague is speaking in another language around me or others who don't understand it. It's an English speaking working environment. Just because I feel uncomfortable doesn't mean that I don't embrace multi-culturalism. I'm just saying that if English is the primary language that is communicated to Staff, then that should be the spoken language by all.

If her Employer told her to stop speaking in another language, then she should. I don't find it professional and I'm sure others around her who don't speak her language feel uneasy.

On the other hand, I understand that this may offend some people and I know it is irritating to some people who cannot understand what is being said. However, Canada is a land of cultural diversity and we should learn to accept each other's cultural diversity.

Yes, but this is at work, not in the public. It doesn't bother me when people are speaking other languages in the skytrain or malls, for example, but in an English speaking/written work environment, that's different.

Your Supervisor has to act on the general feeling of other colleagues who felt uncomfortable when she spoke another language. It's not because they're feeling insecure that perhaps she was talking about them in another language, but if it were me, I find it flat out rude and inconsiderate.

On another note, I would never let my mom speak Cantonese to me when MrPL is around. He doesn't understand the language. It's rude!! If she accidentally slipped some phrase, I immediately translate it to him, even when she wasn't talking about him. It's just not nice to make him feel left out or uneasy.
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P.C. · Feb 15 09 07:57

Interesting to hear your perspective, Miss purelife.

And thanks for such an interesting topic, Lise. I like a topic that inspires conversation at home as well as on the forum....and makes me look at different sides of a situation.

On another note, I would never let my mom speak Cantonese to me when MrPL is around. He doesn't understand the language. It's rude!! If she accidentally slipped some phrase, I immediately translate it to him, even when she wasn't talking about him. It's just not nice to make him feel left out or uneasy.

That's so considerate of you purelife.