To think this is discrimination or at least unfair?

[Sweet666]

So today the manager at work told us we can only speak English unless we are explaining the work... not allowed to chat basically except in English. So people who can talk good English are allowed to have chats all day but if you can't speak English then you're not allowed to have a chat. I think this is wrong and unfair. Why should you have to be silent all day if you can't speak English but if you are English or speak good English then you're allowed to chat as much as you want?
4

[notangelinajolie]

Failing to see how being asked to speak in English in England is discrimination.

[Narniacalling]

@WhatKatyDidNxt
Um because it’s the law. That was fought hard for. Because not everyone sails through life not being discriminated against!!!

If there is a justified reason that everyone has to speak English in your workplace then that’s great. But really F off with the bullshit about everyone saying everything is discrimination

[Narniacalling]

@notangelinajolie
Because we are supposed to be a civilised country. And stopping people speaking their native language in their break time is pretty awful don’t you think?

[partyatthepalace]

You could try talking to your union, but if there are a lot of different languages in your work place, your boss may not be discriminating they just want a cohesive workplace where everyone can more or less follow what’s going on. This is fair enough and might actually help the people who don’t speak great English improve

[Sweet666]

By the way no it doesn't affect anything in the job, the job is so boring most of the Romanian older people who are over 60 are the ones who can't talk any at all, just a few words, and have the most boring part of the job (putting a cover on a bottle 9-12 hours) so I just think they should be allowed to chat and not go crazy! When the English people and English speakers can chat all day about whatever they want. And most of the supervisors are Romanian or Polish so it's not like we can just talk about the bosses without them knowing

[Narniacalling]

Depends who’s got the balls to stand up to it. If they’re at a work station then the employee could easily say it affects the work, and it will be nigh on impossible to prove otherwise.

Have the staff been there more than 2 years. Is it a permanent contract etc etc.

I’m all for fighting for rights, but sometimes you simply know you won’t win and the price is too high to pay. I mean even this thread people think it’s totally fine.

[Ylvamoon]

@Sweet666 why are some of your co workers so reluctant to learn English? Or is it just you playing devils advocate???

I get it, it's not easy to learn a language, but then again, what would happen if your workplace shuts down? Someone needs hospital treatment? Needs to apply for "settled status" to remain in the UK? There won't always be somebody to translate at hand.

[HibernatingTill2030]

I would say it depends on the job.
Personally I don't give a flying fuck if all my coworkers are speaking another language. But I don't want to talk to them, and don't care what they are talking about! Some people do find it quite offensive for some reason.

[MadameBlobby]

It is not possible to advise on this without much more info.

What is the nature of the work?

[MadameBlobby]

@Sweet666

By the way no it doesn't affect anything in the job, the job is so boring most of the Romanian older people who are over 60 are the ones who can't talk any at all, just a few words, and have the most boring part of the job (putting a cover on a bottle 9-12 hours) so I just think they should be allowed to chat and not go crazy! When the English people and English speakers can chat all day about whatever they want. And most of the supervisors are Romanian or Polish so it's not like we can just talk about the bosses without them knowing

Is it on a production line? Are there health and safety implications?

[Ponoka7]

If the aim is to foster a good team playing atmosphere, then it's allowed. Any behaviour that could exclude others, can be clamped down upon. Did those doing the job claim that they could speak English on their application? They are on the shop floor, working, so chatting isn't an automatic right.

[Chloemol]

Sorry disagree with you YABU. There is no reason for you not to speak English, and if you can’t then it’s a way of learning

I can guarantee that if you lived in France, Spain, Russia or wherever you would be expected to speak in their language at work

I worked somewhere where there was a group who used to sit in the staff room speaking their language. It was obvious on occasion they were talking about other staff and it caused a big issue. They were told to speak English

That’s the country you are in.

[Grenlei]

If the workplace is in England, then I'd expect anyone working there to have at least a basic command of English. As such asking people to speak English while working is reasonable, and indeed desirable from a H&S point of view.

[CeeceeBloomingdale]

As you speak English why is it a problem for you? For those who don't deal English it's an opportunity to learn as you do pick up languages from listening up them. Those who don't speak English may have a point but I would expect to learn the language if I was working in another country. I think it's rude to not at least try.

[HibernatingTill2030]

@notangelinajolie

Failing to see how being asked to speak in English in England is discrimination.

OP doesn't actually say they are in England, although I agree with you I think.
My opinion would change if they were in Wales and forbidden to speak Welsh, for instance- although OPs later posts indicate this isn't the case!

[VaizyCrazyDaizy]

I had a care job where on shift I was the only non Romanian and found I was completely and rudely left out as they worked their whole shift speaking only Romanian. Yes I did make an overt effort to chat for some time but just gave up! It would also happen when other groups arranged their shifts together. I had another job as a technician where absolutely no one spoke English at work to the point it became unworkable and unsafe. Also people made no effort to mix with colleagues who were different from themselves.

[MagentaDoesNotExist]

Some of these respinses are disgusting. And hugely ironic coming from a country if people who love to take foreign holidays yet neglect to learn even a few words of the language of the country they are visiting, from basic counrtesy.

If you are not having a conversation about work, and your job doesn't require you to be speaking about work, how is it anybody's business whether you chat in another language or stay completely silent? It doesn't affect the ability to do the work whatsoever if working in a physical job like in a factory which is what the OP describes.

It's very close to demanding that you conduct all of your family conversations while on holiday in Spain in Spanish. I wonder how many posters with that attitude on this thread would be able to do so. It's quite amusing to hear such ardent views about people learning a new language in a country that has such a low rate of people even being bilingual, It smacks of Nigel Farage style "ohhhh I'm so uncomfortable because I don't understand what they are saying" xenophobia.

[Stompythedinosaur]

Unlike a lot of the people posting here about how it suits them to have everyone speak the language they understand, I've had the experience of living somewhere where I wasn't fluent in the language and was trying to work (admittedly I was doing a student nurse placement, but not too dissimilar).

It was very draining trying to keep up with what was said, and the few occasions I could catch up with an English speaker to check i had properly understood what I needed to do and for a few words of encouragement or to say what was in my mind not limited to the extent of the language I knew were absolute lifesavers.

I wasn't "not trying" to learn the language, I was trying very hard! And I had learnt a lot, I was getting by, but it was still much, much harder than working in my native language.

Op, I think it is a horrible, discriminative rule. I have no idea if it is legal, maybe see if a Union can help?

[HibernatingTill2030]

Some of these respinses are disgusting. And hugely ironic coming from a country if people who love to take foreign holidays yet neglect to learn even a few words of the language of the country they are visiting, from basic counrtesy

As I said in a pp, I couldn't give a fuck what language are talking in at my office. In fact, it does me a favour as I then can't be forced to join in and can ignore!
But, it's not remotely the same as being on holiday and not speaking the local language. You can't compare the two situations at all.

[MagentaDoesNotExist]

@HibernatingTill2030

Some of these respinses are disgusting. And hugely ironic coming from a country if people who love to take foreign holidays yet neglect to learn even a few words of the language of the country they are visiting, from basic counrtesy

As I said in a pp, I couldn't give a fuck what language are talking in at my office. In fact, it does me a favour as I then can't be forced to join in and can ignore!
But, it's not remotely the same as being on holiday and not speaking the local language. You can't compare the two situations at all.

Yes, I can. And I have.

[mimi0708]

@MagentaDoesNotExist

Some of these respinses are disgusting. And hugely ironic coming from a country if people who love to take foreign holidays yet neglect to learn even a few words of the language of the country they are visiting, from basic counrtesy.

If you are not having a conversation about work, and your job doesn't require you to be speaking about work, how is it anybody's business whether you chat in another language or stay completely silent? It doesn't affect the ability to do the work whatsoever if working in a physical job like in a factory which is what the OP describes.

It's very close to demanding that you conduct all of your family conversations while on holiday in Spain in Spanish. I wonder how many posters with that attitude on this thread would be able to do so. It's quite amusing to hear such ardent views about people learning a new language in a country that has such a low rate of people even being bilingual, It smacks of Nigel Farage style "ohhhh I'm so uncomfortable because I don't understand what they are saying" xenophobia.

This. A lot of English people living/working in other countries don't even learn the language of the country they decide to stay in, very common from where I come from.

Anyway, it's really hard not being able to chat in your own language with colleagues at the office. Not originally from the UK but in our country we are taught English from a very young age so majority of us are pretty fluent. When I'm in my office, I still speak w/ my colleagues from my country in our language when chatting as it is just more natural and conversation flows better, some words also just don't translate very well. I don't see the problem if it is just informal chatting.

[Marchitectmummy]

Have you asked why? Could be many reasons that are linked to the company which explains why. I suspect health and safety. Or a new contract to supply the service or product your company is involved with requires a certain proficiency in English. Or it could just be they want workers to integrate more?

[BlueThistles]

What Company are you referring to OP ?

Where are they based ?

[MiddlesexGirl]

Some of these respinses are disgusting. And hugely ironic coming from a country if people who love to take foreign holidays yet neglect to learn even a few words of the language of the country they are visiting, from basic counrtesy.

Not the same at all. Employment vs. leisure.

[Brefugee]

it's not like people at wotk who can't speak any English can just suddenly learn it just by people talking English at them

oh indeed the can