Workers banned for not speaking English.

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail....ge-health-safety.html

This all seems a little too extreme on Waterstones part, health and safety or not.

But it does raise the topical issue of foreign nationals settling into this country speaking in their native tongue.

David Cameron recently brought the matter up by suggesting that benefits could be cut if some refuse to learn English, also a little extreme maybe.

But the fact remains that because some refuse to learn to speak and read English, other problems occur. Take for example the matter of the cost to the taxpayer of providing interpreters:

The need to erect notices in public buildings all in a multitude of different languages:

The need to print extra amounts of paper publications also in different languages:

And then there is the problem of classes of school children where only a minority of pupils speak English.

Apart from all these, I learnt today that in some hospitals patients are put at risk simply because some nurses cannot speak English, and that content notices put on the doors of storage cabinets are being replaced by pictures of what the cabinet contains.

[hc4361]

I know plenty of people who live and work in Spain and France and can only speak English.

[mightyWBA]

My Aunt works with someone who applied for a job with a local council in Wales,he is Welsh but has lived in Worcester for 20 years,they turned down his application because he can't speak Welsh.

Seems like it's all right for some languages to be compulsory..Or the Welsh are protecting themselves.....

[Old_Geezer]

If one is working on a short term contract then it isn't reasonable to request the individual must learn the language of the country they are in. Similarly for vacations. But if living in a country on a more permanent basis it is only polite and right to learn and to use the language of the country you are in when with others, within a reasonable timeframe. Which for the UK is of course English. Whilst I've no wish to make folk feel awkward by dictating they can never use their native language, it should be clear that to remain isolationist from their fellow employees by speaking a language the others are unlikely to know, is not conducive to good relationships. It is reasonable to ask that it isn't done, although I am unsure how far one should go when an employee refuses. I don't see it is discrimination since all employees will be asked to use the same language so they all understand each other. And indeed they should be happy to do so if they have any respect for their fellow workers.

[B00]

How are they supposed to understand and carry out work related instructions if they don't understand the language?

[anotheoldgit]

Interesting to note that in the year 2000, 97.74% of the population of the United Kingdom spoke English.

Whereas, in American Samoa it was 100%

In Barbados it was 98.57%

And in Ireland it was 98.37%

These others were not far behind.

Bermuda 96.92%

U.S.Virgin Islands 95.97%

Falkland Islands 95.54%

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 95%

Dominica 94.03%

Philippines 92.58%

Anguilla 92.31%

Grenada 90.91%

[B00]

"Falkland Islands 95.54%"

Was the other 4.46% the penguins?

[Mosaic]

I think it is very important to speak english in the workplace (including schools and hospitals) so that misunderstandings and cliques are avoided. I have worked in several roles where Pakistani and some Indian colleagues have used south Asian language to try and manipulate situations, and in schools where pupils use this as a route for deviousness. I'm sure this video has been posted before, but here goes:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pwghabw4N80

[askyourgran]

Whoever interviews/employs the non-English speaking people should be sacked. Why should extra assistance be given to those who can't or won't learn the language? Especially if their job relies on communication and a modicum of brainpower. It is most worrying that hospital workers may not be able to understand what you are saying.

[emmie]

how about our human rights, to converse with shop, factory, restaurant, and particularly council and hospital workers in English. As i have been trying to sort out several problems, a never ending one is with the local council.
The uphill battle is being able to understand the person or persons at the end of the phone, and the majority of the time i can't.

[emmie]

Hc, and i have known any number who could speak the language of the country they settled in fluently.

[Mosaic]

I noticed in Spain that doctors were refusing to see those not fluent in Spanish unless accompnaied by a translator.
You won't get much change from the French if you don't make the effort linguistically.

[emmie]

Mosaic, if you ever have the fortune, or misfortune to go to Paris, don't expect any good natured, or not, Parisienne to give you the time of day if you don't speak the lingo, or a passable attempt. They are as snootiest a lot that i have ever come across. Great place mind you.

[Mosaic]

Yeh but they're like that with each other. Like Londoners, they don't represent the rest of the country.

[emmie]

Mosaic, there are not many of us left, Londoners that is. uhem

[Mosaic]

Nothing personal, but one of the reasons I won't buy 'quality' newspapers any more is their constant assumption that everyone lives within the M25 and commutes to the west end for work.

[joko]

i think they should be made to learn or they simply dont get the jobs they want... its bad enough the terrible handwriting doctors have but to have them unable to speak the language let alone write it is horrifying

it is beyond frustrating to phone a helpline and be greeted with 'john' with a strong indian accent who simply cannot grasp what you are trying to explain...

imagine it everywhere?

i got a voicemail the other day...had no idea who he was or what he wanted and he sounded like the west indian guy from fonejacker! i actually thought it was a joke...he even signed off with that drawn out 'take carrrre goodbahhh...'...i only realised he was from 'wergin' media when someone else rang back from the same number...

[anotheoldgit]

em10

Yes and isn't it also the French who are the only country not to speak in English at the Eurovision Song Contest?

[emmie]

as was the gentleman giving train info over the tannoy, never a good way to impart info at the best of times, i didn't catch one word of a very long announcement.

[bednobs]

BANNED FROM WHAT?

[AB Editor]

Bednobs, Headline is:

Foreign workers at Waterstone's banned from speaking their own language for 'health and safety reasons'