tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33004692.post1313613601559105548..comments2023-10-31T12:58:36.729+01:00Comments on Evil HR Lady: I'm Sorry, I Didn't Catch That?Suzanne Lucashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07129772885673695447noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33004692.post-13365763013594859232007-11-13T23:00:00.000+01:002007-11-13T23:00:00.000+01:00I kind of have a mixed feeling. Yes, that is very...I kind of have a mixed feeling. <BR/>Yes, that is very true, there is law which restricts you to make a policy on language use in office. And it is true as you mentioned it is none of one's business what someone is talking about unless he talks directly to him/her even if he is cursing him/her in one's native language.<BR/>At the same time, for the very fact if someone is talking in front of you, then you will always think he is talking about you only. And that feeling will create friction between team members. So for the company benefit it is necessary that there is a policy which dictates the use of one particular language.<BR/>One relaxation can be given by the clause...."you are allowed to speak in your native language as long as there is no foreign party present during the conversation."<BR/>Imagine what happens if you are at client location and the employee speaks in his native language...how the client will feel. Same logic applies everywhere. <BR/>I am not HR, but that looks like a common sense thing to me, not eligible for a HR policy though. Employees should be sensitized about this issue.<BR/>A little long comment I think...sorry for that.<BR/>Thanks<BR/>Anurag BansalAnurag Bansalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11906091958175995667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33004692.post-16019600969393527582007-10-19T00:56:00.000+02:002007-10-19T00:56:00.000+02:00I'm familiar with the Babylon situation from the p...I'm familiar with the Babylon situation from the point of view of a headquarter managing subsidiaries in countries with half a dozen different languages. English is the official company language but you can hear all kinds of languages in our offices. However, we have also learned to quickly switch to English to make sure that somebody joining a conversation doesn't feel excluded. Sometimes you can even hear people switching languages in mid-sentence in front of the coffee machine. For me, this is simply a matter of respect.<BR/><BR/>And being a man, I only own one pair of shoes, so no danger of mismatching ;-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33004692.post-33393336319106835412007-10-18T16:30:00.000+02:002007-10-18T16:30:00.000+02:00My company is so diverse and had complaints to HR ...My company is so diverse and had complaints to HR about the different languages spoken that one employee actually hung up the following:Prohibiting the speaking of another language during employee break time, in the parking lot, before or after work hours, or in casual conversation among co-workers is in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33004692.post-39137327444728138022007-10-17T14:47:00.000+02:002007-10-17T14:47:00.000+02:00florinda--you've just made my day. I felt like a ...florinda--you've just made my day. I felt like a total dork all day--and I pointed it out to everyone I ran into, so they wouldn't talk about me behind my back, just in front of me.Evil HR Ladyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14506069540151526951noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33004692.post-78887453728022404962007-10-17T06:19:00.000+02:002007-10-17T06:19:00.000+02:00I'm sorry - this has nothing to do with the substa...I'm sorry - this has nothing to do with the substance of your post, but I did the exact same thing with the shoes once.Florindahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09789402061034734894noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33004692.post-58758037313861313842007-10-16T20:14:00.000+02:002007-10-16T20:14:00.000+02:00Of course, an English only requirement might rule ...Of course, an English only requirement might rule out several native English speakers whose command of the language is suspect at best!Evil HRISguyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09205002744797246461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33004692.post-20739057279759047352007-10-16T16:16:00.000+02:002007-10-16T16:16:00.000+02:00well, yes, that's possible. I have a very America...well, yes, that's possible. I have a very American looking friend who is fluent in Japanese and has spent many years there. She's had similar experiences.Evil HR Ladyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14506069540151526951noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33004692.post-17563624396075471232007-10-16T16:14:00.000+02:002007-10-16T16:14:00.000+02:00Sometimes, however, they are talking about you! My...Sometimes, however, they are talking about you! My friend Lauren is fluent in Spanish. She looks like an English rose, so to look at her, you wouldn't think "native speaker." (Although you would be wrong -- plenty of blue-eyed blonde Chileans, Mexicans and Colombians.)<BR/><BR/>She was at a meeting in Florida. They were on a break and two of the women started gossiping in Spanish about their boss, who was sitting right next to them. Apparently, the boss did not speak Spanish.<BR/><BR/>When the boss left the room, Lauren told the two women in Spanish, "Be careful. You never know who might speak Spanish."<BR/><BR/>They just about choked and begged her not to tell the boss what they had said.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33004692.post-14428132038815486962007-10-16T16:02:00.000+02:002007-10-16T16:02:00.000+02:00Wonderful response, Evil. I especially like the pa...Wonderful response, Evil. I especially like the part about "They're not talking about you because you're not interesting."<BR/><BR/>While I think everything you've said is spot on, I also think that the boss will need to do some watching of this. You don't want a bit of discomfort to turn into disharmony. I would imagine that a good boss would notice and perhaps chat with both sides.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33004692.post-40682884328492709722007-10-16T15:26:00.000+02:002007-10-16T15:26:00.000+02:00Thanks Jon! I knew my lawyers would come through....Thanks Jon! I knew my lawyers would come through.Evil HR Ladyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14506069540151526951noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33004692.post-23288260992676085532007-10-16T15:21:00.000+02:002007-10-16T15:21:00.000+02:00From the legal side, also consider this:http://ohi...From the legal side, also consider this:<BR/>http://ohioemploymentlaw.blogspot.com/2007/06/<BR/>english-only-workplaces-spark-lawsuits.htmlJon Hymanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06061833056640332907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33004692.post-56856786160184352992007-10-16T15:20:00.000+02:002007-10-16T15:20:00.000+02:00This comment has been removed by the author.Jon Hymanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06061833056640332907noreply@blogger.com