Q&A

Can a job prohibit you from speaking Spanish?

Can a job prohibit you from speaking Spanish?

Can Your Employer Prohibit You From Speaking Spanish at Your Job? Under California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) and federal law, it is illegal for an employer to discriminate against an employee based on his native language or manner of speech, such as accent, size of his vocabulary, and syntax.

What jobs can you get if you speak Spanish?

A selection of possible careers available to those with Spanish degrees:

  • Education: Bilingual Educator. College Professor.
  • Business: International Relations Consultant. Foreign Exchange Trader.
  • Culture/Tourism: Cultural Events Coordinator. Travel Agent.
  • Government: National Security Agent. Immigration Officer.

    Why are people not allowed to speak Spanish at work?

    In 2013, Verizon established an informal policy encouraging workers not to speak Spanish on the dispatch floor or in other work areas because it caused tension and caused other employees to feel left out. If you’re feeling this way about employees speaking Spanish around you, you can let them know and ask them to include you.

    Can a company sue you if you don’t speak Spanish?

    You can file a claim with the EEOC if your employer bases employment on whether you speak a certain language. The EEOC will then investigate and may even file a lawsuit against your employer. For example, in 2009, it sued Michoacan Seafood Group, LLC for firing two otherwise qualified employees who did not speak Spanish.

    What should I do if my co-worker speaks Spanish?

    As an employer or co-worker of individuals who speak Spanish among themselves from time to time, you must try to have some empathy. Put yourself in their shoes for a while. Imagine yourself living and working in a foreign country where no one else speaks your language. Suddenly a couple of new American hires join you. How would you feel?

    Is it against the rules to speak only English at work?

    Along the same lines, your supervisor or boss cannot make it against the rules to speak only certain foreign languages but not others, such as a no Russian speaking rule while allowing Spanish to be spoken. You can see that English-only restrictions are valid in only a very narrow band of circumstances.

    What happens if you speak only Spanish at work?

    Keep in mind, though, that if speaking only Spanish is causing problems with missing important deadlines or policies, then your boss may need to be involved. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission protects employees from discrimination, and this includes protecting applicants from being refused a job because they speak Spanish.

    Along the same lines, your supervisor or boss cannot make it against the rules to speak only certain foreign languages but not others, such as a no Russian speaking rule while allowing Spanish to be spoken. You can see that English-only restrictions are valid in only a very narrow band of circumstances.

    Is it okay to speak English and Spanish at the same time?

    You might feel awkward if you speak English and your coworkers only speak Spanish around you. But legally, there isn’t much you can do. However, you can find ways to still enjoy your job even if you don’t understand what everyone around you is saying.

    When do you need to speak another language to get a job?

    These rules also apply when a job requires fluency in a language other than English. For example, a company that has a substantial amount of customers who speak only Hindi could legally require that employees who interact with those customers also speak Hindi.