Speaking polish to polish customers

NeilCr

JReacher1 wrote: »

Exactly.

At the end of the day people can post as many fake scenarios they like but the business owner has requested that only English is spoken in front of the customers. It is perfectly legal for the owner to insist on this.

Indeed.

But the question remains about why the customers feel so threatened by someone having conversations with a hairdresser that they are not party to. Fake scenarios or not.

I get the (fake scenario) suggestion that if there was a big ratio one way or the other then people would feel uncomfortable. But, beyond that, why is it such a big deal?

JReacher1

NeilCr wrote: »

Indeed.

But the question remains about why the customers feel so threatened by someone having conversations with a hairdresser that they are not party to. Fake scenarios or not.

I get the (fake scenario) suggestion that if there was a big ratio one way or the other then people would feel uncomfortable. But, beyond that, why is it such a big deal?

It is obviously a big deal to the owner of the salon who is frankly the only person that matters...

NeilCr

JReacher1 wrote: »

It is obviously a big deal to the owner of the salon who is frankly the only person that matters...

And the customers and the OP's friend don't matter then.?

Way to go with avoiding the question

JReacher1

NeilCr wrote: »

And the customers and the OP's friend don't matter then.?

Way to go with avoiding the question

Sadly they do not in this scenario. The business owner is the only one in this decision that matters.

I answered the question in my first post on this thread. There is no need to continue to repeat myself.

Red-Squirrel_2

JReacher1 wrote: »

There is no need to continue to repeat myself.

And yet, and yet...

JReacher1

Red-Squirrel wrote: »

And yet, and yet...

There is no need for cheap digs.

You know you are better than that......

sitesafe

Amara wrote: »

I used to work in a care home, where polish couple started with no english at all. I talked to them in polish and I've been told off for it on staff meeting, in front of everyone. I've been told, if it'll happen every again, I'll face consequences. It's not easy situation to be in. Using language other the english is grey area in employment law.

In this situation, assuming the home is in England and most of the residents know English surely most of the residents that lived there should have been able to understand what is being said around them - especially if they are vulnerable and they are being cared for.

Les79

NeilCr wrote: »

And the customers and the OP's friend don't matter then.?

Way to go with avoiding the question

OP/OP's friend don't matter one bit. They are merely minions.

Business owners also have the right to tailor their business towards certain people. There is nothing inherently wrong with a business owner neglecting their core customer base. They are absolutely entitled to do that.

So yes, if the owner is inclined both customers and staff can be considered redundant (though both usually leads to failure and 1 can also lead to that).

The problem on this thread right now is the use of the word "if". If I had a million dollars... etc etc. Too much speculation.

NeilCr

Les79 wrote: »

OP/OP's friend don't matter one bit. They are merely minions.

Business owners also have the right to tailor their business towards certain people. There is nothing inherently wrong with a business owner neglecting their core customer base. They are absolutely entitled to do that.

So yes, if the owner is inclined both customers and staff can be considered redundant (though both usually leads to failure and 1 can also lead to that).

The problem on this thread right now is the use of the word "if". If I had a million dollars... etc etc. Too much speculation.

As you say if (sorry, although you used the dreaded word yourself !) ) you decide that the customers and staff don't matter then the business may well run into problems. So, really they do matter although I fully accept it's the owner's sole decision how to run the place.

In this case, no speculation needed, it's the view of some of the customer base that they don't like being somewhere where people talk Polish to each other. Even though they are not party to that conversation. Which has influenced the owner's decision.

I don't really think this is about ifs. It's about why some people are so uncomfortable in these situations that they feel the need to raise the issue with the owner. While completely taking the point about ratios, it's just not something that would bother me - or others here, by the sound of it.

trailingspouse

OK, strictly not racist (as Polish people would likely self-identify as White European, and presumably so would the boss). But certainly xenophobic.