Speaking polish to polish customers

GlasweJen

JReacher1 wrote: »

How would you know that is what they are saying if you do not speak the language?

Why would you care?

JReacher1

GlasweJen wrote: »

Why would you care?

Well I am just curious as your argument seems to be that people must be very close minded to not like to hear people say “thank you have a nice day” in another language.

However if you do not speak that language you do not know they are saying that so I do not think it is being close minded to prefer people to speak the native language of the country you are in.

Red-Squirrel_2

JReacher1 wrote: »

No of course not that would be ridiculous.

I would hope they speak English but I would expect them to speak the native language of the country I am in and would make do with the traditional British way of pointing at things :rotfl:

I do not really understand the point of your post. This is a British business where the staff are being asked to speak English to customers.

But if you went to a French or Turkish or Brazilian business you would hope that they would speak English to you as a customer, and you aren't seeing the contradiction at all?

JReacher1

Red-Squirrel wrote: »

But if you went to a French or Turkish or Brazilian business you would hope that they would speak English to you as a customer, and you aren't seeing the contradiction at all?

Not really. Could you please explain the contradiction?

I think you are missing the point that it is not what I would prefer e.g. the English speaking customer in a French business in France, but what the other French customers in the French business would prefer.

I perfectly accept that the polish customers in the OPs shop are probably happy the staff are speaking polish to them. It is however perfectly legal for the business owner to insist that the staff speak English in front of customers.

Also I feel I must add that my wife is from Pakistan and speaks fluent Urdu. I often visit Bangladeshi restaurants where the staff speak to her in Urdu and I have no idea what they are saying. It does not bother me in the slightest. My point is that in the UK if a business wants to enforce English only in front of customers it is in fact perfectly legal and I do know that many people prefer to know what people are saying in front of them.

boliston

JReacher1 wrote: »

It is basic commercial common sense. If you run a business in a country and the staff and some customers are speaking a different language it puts other customers off from visiting the establishment. People don’t like to be in places where other people are speaking a different language, they accept it in other countries but nobody likes to feel an outsider in their own country. .....

When I went to berlin recently I had quite a few employees at german businesses speak to me in english - i wonder how many native germans were offended at hearing english spoken at the establishment? I hope they did not start to feel like outsiders in their own country.

JReacher1

boliston wrote: »

When I went to berlin recently I had quite a few employees at german businesses speak to me in english - i wonder how many native germans were offended at hearing english spoken at the establishment? I hope they did not start to feel like outsiders in their own country.

Probably very few. However would you have complained if the staff had been told they must speak german in front of customers?

Also let us be honest here. Mainly due to the Americans but a lot of people speak English. I have travelled the world quite extensively and it is quite rare to meet someone who does not understand a very basic level of English.

I would suspect not many people in the UK have a basic understanding of polish.

System

antrobus wrote: »

No, but it might be illegal to act against some one who chooses to speak a different language.

Proficiency in the English language is a requirement of UK citizenship. But then either Welsh or Scots Gaelic will do just as well.

And there is nothing to say that you can't be proficient in more than one language and use whichever one you choose. I'd have thought that anyone who tried to prevent the use of a particular language could well get into trouble.

Human Rights Act 1998

Prohibition of discrimination
The enjoyment of the rights and freedoms set forth in this Convention shall be secured without discrimination on any ground such as sex, race, colour, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, association with a national minority, property, birth or other status.

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/42/schedule/1/part/I/chapter/12

Is the salon a new signatory to the European Convention on Human Rights?

Talk about storm in a teacup - the friend listens to Polish speaking customers and responds in English. If unhappy, discuss concerns with owner and if still unhappy find a new salon.

[Deleted User]

Don't think it's closed minded. I have a Childrens centre across the road from me I used to use with my son. Half the users are non British so they hired staff that could speak their language, fair enough.
So session after session staff and service users spoke to each other in Arabic. I plodded on but eventually stopped attending because nobody ever spoke English, it's so isolating. I didn't have a clue what was going on in the sessions.

NeilCr

Murphybear wrote: »

Am I the only one that thinks it is very sad that she should have been told to stop speaking Polish

I have a friend who runs a letting agency. He has loads of Polish tenants on his books and has a Polish member of staff. They always speak Polish together and it has really helped in guaranteeing that the tenants understand the contracts and any issues arising. They all get on like a house on fire and my friend and his wife went to Poland when she got married. Not only that but has brought him loads of extra business.

Going back much further I had a room mate in my University Hall of Residence. She was Polish and her parents lived within easy travelling distance. She went home at weekends and her parents brought her back. They only spoke Polish in our room and every few minutes they would turn to me and apologise . Of course I didn't mind, I thought it was lovely and fascinating to sit and listen.

I agree with you.

I live in a part of the country where there are a number of Eastern Europeans. In general they converse with each other in their native tongues and, if they are speaking to an English person, they speak in English. I see nothing wrong with that. If I was abroad and went into a barbers where there was an English member of staff then I think it would be natural - and nice - to be able to converse in English.

I, honestly, struggle to see why people get offended in a transient situation, like a hairdressers, where as GlasweJen says there is no real need to be involved in another conversation. _shel's example is a bit different

There is another issue about learning the language if you are living in a foreign country. I think you should - although just how good we British are at that, ourselves, is open to debate.

bugslet

I think it depends on the ratio. If it was about 90% polish speaking I'd not go back because I'd feel left out. Majority English spoken with some polish, then fine, no problem. I think there's a tipping point somewhere where as an English customer in England at a business run by English people you'd feel left out if you are hearing a foreign language.