Question

Regardless of the legal issues, do you feel it is fair for an employer to require that only English be spoken in the workplace? Why or why not?

Answer 1

Answer.

Given the growing cultural diversity of the workplaces, employers need to become more knowledgeable about issues pertaining to Inter ethnic contact between Immigrant Americans and other non-native English speakers in the workplace. While the exclusive use of English language in the formula workplace may be a necessary mandate to help in the professional communication, application of an ‘ English only’ rule on the office staff in informal settings such as cafeteria or in the leisure time is not all that fair. This is because, such a practice without exceptions can reflect an intent to discriminate on the basis of race and national origin and can perpetuate a scenario of ethnic hostility where the employees may feel insecure and judged for speaking their native language in their non official time. Thus, a blanket English-only rule can have a significant adverse impact on national origin groups whose primary language is not English,