Employer English-only bill Options

[Spectatrix]

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/12/13/eng...bill/index.html

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Republican leaders in the House are supporting a bill that would let employers set an English only policy on the job.
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The EEOC has sued the Salvation Army after organization required that their workers learn English.

Rep. Tom Price, R-Georgia, is the lead sponsor of the Common Sense English Act. The bill, introduced in the House on Wednesday, would allow offices and workplaces around the country to require English under any circumstance they prefer.

The measure comes after the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission sued the Salvation Army over the issue. The charity organization required that their workers learn English within a year and speak English only after that point. The EEOC sued for discrimination.

"What kind of nonsense is that?" said Rep. Price.

"I believe strongly that employers ought to be able to require employees to speak English while engaged in work activities," he said. "And that's all it does. It's very simple."

Price's bill pulled in 31 co-sponsors within hours of being drafted. Among those co-sponsors are other top Republicans in the House, including House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio.

The Senate has already passed a similar bill, but it has stalled in the Democratic-run House where it was frozen before making it to the floor.

The EEOC insists it is enforcing the current law as written and that regulations are specific. Employers can require English only, but such a policy cannot be in response to any one group, such as Spanish speakers, and it must be for a specific, business-related reason.

"An English only rule must be justified by business necessity," said EEOC regional attorney Elizabeth Grossman. "Safety would be an example."

Price and Republicans behind the bill see more at stake.

"Americans believe that we are a nation united by one language and that our central language protects both our safety and our culture," Price said.

I'm not entirely sure what I think about this... depends on how it's worded. I have no problem with workers speaking Spanish, Chinese, etc. when speaking with each other, but employers should certainly be permitted to require their employees learn English so that they can interact with customers properly.

[impala454]

but employers should certainly be permitted to require their employees learn English so that they can interact with customers properly.

Or other employees. Makes sense to me.

[pysex]

fine with me

[theIncredibleEdi...]

Where I work there are SEVERAL employees who don't know a lick of English. I have no idea how they are able to communicate with our AMERICAN vendors. I sure as hell know they can't communicate with me! If you don't know English and you come up to me at work and start rattling off in Spanish, I am just gonna walk away like you're not even there.

[Jim]

Hear hear. English should be required by all employers for many reasons (safety, allowing the employee to speak with the customer and vendors). Too bad it won't pass. Maybe in Indiana where English is the state language.

[jonathan83]

it's definitely not professional, so i agree with the bill.

[Spectatrix]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure I agree with the bill. I just don't want employees getting in trouble if, say, they're joking around talking in Spanish for a bit (to each other). I doubt that would happen, though.

[RitalinJunkie]

Well...I think that languages you speak should be something on the resume (which it is on ever resume I've filled out), and that if you cant speak the language in which business is being done, in this case English (the language of the VAST majority), then you don't have the qualifications for the job. Thats not discrimination IMHO, it's "you aren't qualified for the position". Granted I'm sure someone will start trying to rip that apart as me being a bigot or racist in a couple minutes, but whatever.

[Mommy]

its pretty sad that there is a lawsuit pending against a charitable organization like the Salvation Army.

I think English should be required.

[Testm0nkey]

yeah why sue the salvation army? jesus christ

people who dont speak english arent typically the ones interacting with customers

this will get your panties in a twist techsans - the job i am looking at REQUIRES or "strongly prefers" that i speak spanish

[Spectatrix]

this will get your panties in a twist techsans - the job i am looking at REQUIRES or "strongly prefers" that i speak spanish

Well if the business has a lot of Hispanic customers, then it makes sense for employees to be bilingual.

[jonathan83]

then you better get studying!

[Inferia]

Do we really need a bill for this? If the person doesn't speak English, and you think this will be a problem in the future, then don't hire the person. If speaking English is a non-issue, then what does it matter anyway.

If somehow the job comes with the requirement that one must learn English after a year of obtaining the job, then it should be specified. I don't really see that much of a problem with the employer requiring the person to learn English (perhaps a little weird that you learn it after you get the job), and if the person doesn't, I don't see a person being fired for it.

[Mommy]

yeah why sue the salvation army? jesus christ

people who dont speak english arent typically the ones interacting with customers

this will get your panties in a twist techsans - the job i am looking at REQUIRES or "strongly prefers" that i speak spanish

sabes espanol?

[Testm0nkey]

SI

im not fluent yet but i can converse easily and i know more than enough to get by.