So if I start a bussiness, a restaurant per say, would I have to provide everything in english? Is it not a privately owned bussiness, and like many other privately owned bussinesses shouldn't I decide what other rules and regulations I should put as part of my bussines? So why should privately owned bussinesses that have things written only in a non english language be made to change?
2006-08-16 07:02:20 · 32 answers · asked by Fiesty Redhead 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Immigration
Well, it all depends on where you are going to open it up. Lets say here in Michigan, in Dearborn it would have to be in ARABIC. Don't worry English is hard to come by there.
2006-08-16 07:22:08 · answer #1 · answered by LA LA 6 · 2⤊ 3⤋
There is no law that requires your business to provide everything in English. So, if someone told you that, and you are running with it, you are not doing yourself or the rest of the world any favors.
In the restaurant business, there are a LOT of regulations required by state and local laws. It has been that way practically as long as the US has been a nation. It doesn't matter how private your business is, you have to maintain your premises, equipment and personell to a certain standard. If you don't, and get caught, you could get shut down, and you should. For that reason, there are many signs that require labeling in English, shuch as exits, fire extinguishers and pricing policies.
From another point of view, if I owned a business of ANY kind, I would intend to attract as many customers as I can. The more customers, the more money. If my location was near a neighborhood with a lot of Asians, I might advertise some of my services in a couple of asian languages. If I had a business in some parts of Pensylvania, I might put up some signs in German. In some parts of Phillidelphia, perhaps polish. In southern Florida, I'd be a fool not to do some advertisements and signs in Spanish. AND, I'd still welcome English speaking patrons with signs in English.
But get the idea out of your head that the government has no right to protect the public from unscrupulous business practices. They do, they can, and they will. In the meantime, if you only wish to accept money from a lily white, English speaking clientele, you go ahead and do everything in English. Just be very careful if you try to refuse service to somone walking in, speaking with an accent.
The reverse is also true. Lets see you try to run your restraunt without displaying your business licenses, health permits and other required postings in any language other than English.
You can still be sued until you can't afford to live in this country.
2006-08-16 07:25:30 · answer #2 · answered by Vince M 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Its your business, do what you want!!!
However, depending on where you live you might want to accommodate to those who only speak one language, just so financially your business will succeed. But you don't HAVE to. Where I live, half the cities restaurants are Japanese and Moroccan and whatnot, and a lot of the menus and stuff are written in that language! Ever been to an Italian restaurant, HELLO. All in Italian.
2006-08-16 07:34:39 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, if its a privately owned business then no one has the right to tell you what language you should have. There are many restaurants all over the U.S. with a language other than english, but most people only complain about spanish restaurants who only give out spanish menu's. Whats up with that? If they do not like the fact that you don't have an english menu then they should take their money elsewhere.
2006-08-16 07:24:00 · answer #4 · answered by Chelle's Belle 4 · 2⤊ 3⤋
I would think that for a privately owned business, the owner has the right to make those types of decisions. If you entire menu is written in French (or whatever), that's up to you - and if people don't like it, they dont' have to eat there. That's my opinion.
2006-08-16 07:46:23 · answer #5 · answered by ontario ashley 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What are you referring to? I have heard nothing of forcing businesses to provide everything in English. Obviously they will have to have MSDS sheets, tax records, etc. in English. I see no reason why they should have to have menus, or parts lists, or anything of that sort in English, other than they would be stupid not to. They would be cutting off a large portion of clientele by providing it in another language only.
2006-08-16 07:30:39 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It depends, do you live in a community where it is only English Speakers. Are you going to expand your business to different cultures/communities. Even though you might be running your own business it could be the nature of your business, some state laws require you to provide a translator because of the nature of your business. Plus what if you are going to do business with people in other countries you can't expect them to only speak english, they are going to speak whatever language of the country they come from.
Plus there is something that is called the EEOC and other sorts of equal rights. Not to mention most things on FMLA and other such posters you need to provide for you business come in more than one lanuage you can be sited for not having the proper wage earnings, etc.
2006-08-16 07:20:29 · answer #7 · answered by rainy32 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Because you are living in a part of the world where English is the dominant language. Just print everything up using both languages! Why not be fair? We are trying to get along together aren't we?
2006-08-16 07:08:32 · answer #8 · answered by shire_maid 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋
I would say write in whatever you want but don't expect me to care what it says if not in English.
What I believe the point about English only is trying to make is that it is not right to put all public documents and forms into multiple languages.
Private..use whatever language you want I don't care
Public..Use ENGLISH as citizenship requires English proficiency
2006-08-16 07:18:36 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
i guess it would depend on what area of town you opened your shop in. if there is largely hispanic population, then i guess you could have everything in spanish and then you would only have spanish customers. if you open it in an area that has a lot of caucasian people and had everything in non-english, then your restaurant wouldn't get much business. most people don't want to have to have a translation dictionary unless they are on vacation in another country.
2006-08-16 07:40:39 · answer #10 · answered by Niecy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, you would change if you want a larger clientelle to frequent your business...
(And dont tell me that you dont! Because everyone is in business to make scads of money!).
So, its either advertise everything in multi languages, and have more business, or just advertise in your own language and only have the clinetelle from your own "people" and miss out on a lot of extra cash that could of come your way...
I wish you well..
Jesse
2006-08-16 07:13:14 · answer #11 · answered by x 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋