What do you think of this posh Manhattan building requiring English only ?

Question

http://www.nypost.com/seven/01272007/news/regionalnews/workers_english_only_ire_regionalnews_patrick_white.htm
A posh Manhattan building has ordered all its employees to only "speak English" when at work - drawing the ire of workers who in some cases only speak Spanish.

London Terrace Gardens, located at 415-435 W. 23rd St. in Chelsea, issued a memo to its employees, ordering them to only "speak English in all public areas as well as on the [walkie-talkie] radio."

Answer 1

When the Union and the workers objected they were told the following.

"It has been the longstanding policy of the building that employees speak English while in work-related areas, when in contact with residents and when using building-issued walkie-talkies," Rose Associates said in a statement.

"The policy in no way precludes employees from speaking languages other than English when engaging in private conversations.

Since the workers already knew this why did the still complain??? WHY ?

I don't see anything in the world wrong with expecting all workers in the United States to speak ENGLISH. 85% of us do.

To the "person" that said its not our land well lets see you or ANYONE try to take it from us.This is 2007 we live in the here and now not in a foolish dream of the past.The Mexican army got beat all the way back to Mexico City and this land is OURS.This is now and will ALWAYS be the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.And please stay where ever you live.you couldn't make it in America anyway.

Somebody didnt read all of the link did they?.You are so wrong about so many things that I dont have that much time to list them...

Answer 2

I think its great.

I'm by no ways saying that someone whom English is thier second language should not be allowed to speak their naitve language... just not at work (unless they are providing translation services of course). It makes things extremely difficult if the manager or supervisor does not speak Spanish. I manage a bank and two of the tellers there speak Spanish and English fluently. Whenever the two of them talk to each other they speak Spanish. There are issues with customers especially, because one minute one of the tellers will be speaking clear English to the customer and then will say something to the other teller in Spanish. Customers will FLIP OUT over this. I feel that I cannot even assure the customer that the tellers weren't saying anything negative because I don't know what they are saying myself.

Most americans find it irritating mainly because we (americans) don't know what they are saying and we assume that anyone saying something we can't understand must be talking about us (man we are self-centered).

I hope I'm wrong but I keep having the strange feeling that one day we are going to have a civil war about this very same issue.

Answer 3

I really believe this is a god policy to enforce. Many people use language to speak harshly against someone else right in front of him/her. Maybe a couple of employees got caught talking about a guest? I stand behind the building for this reason. Now, if they were asking visitors to do the same, I would have other words.

Answer 4

Since it is and has been the standing policy, then anyone who wishes to remain employed there will abide by the employers policy.
Any who have a problem with the policy should feel free to seek employment opportunities elsewhere, none of them are forced to work under those conditions.
Some people would complain about being hung with a new rope.

Answer 5

Does that mean they kicked out all the illegal Mexicans living there. Some of those Mexicans had saved for years washing dishes just to live there.

I am glad you brought it up.There is not a day that I do not worry about the London Terrace Gardens. Having to hear that horrible spanish.

Answer 6

I have no problem with that at all. It is a private Establishment and people pay hard earned cash to live there and have the place run as they see fit. If you want a job in an area where only Spanish is spoken: might I suggest Mexico be 1st on your travel / job search itinerary

Answer 7

It has very little to do with politics. It has more to do with the self conciousness of those who happen to hear the comments. The memo states only speak english in all public areas and as well on the radio, that means Spanish is still allowed in private. It also means that the company is trying to convince some of the tenants that the employess don't speak badly about them in a foreign language.

I have been accused of talking badly of other people when in fact, other people simply do not register on my conversations.

Answer 8

Our language is English. If you went to Mexico and worked at a "posh" Mexican hotel, you would be expected/required to speak Spanish. As far as I'm concerned every hotel, motel, public establishment and all of their employees should be required to speak English. Kudo's to Manattan!!

Answer 9

I think that it is a good idea. I even think that more places should do the same. I live in southern California and when I go into a store I don't know if the people that speak other languages are talking about me or not. They look at me and the person theya re talking to looks at me but i didn't do anything to them.

Answer 10

English sound more professional when use it at work I can understand that. However if you're not at work and you are a ESL speaker, sometimes it's better to express your feeling in other language. ( Chinese has a diverse aray of expression that simply cannot be expressed in English.) You will understand personally how this feel if English is your second language.