Foreign workers

Sarah69

Hi, I work for the NHS and am wondering if there are any laws about speaking their own language whilst at work?

I’m an HCA and work on wards. I was with a patient and another HCA who is foreign. We had to call a nurse over and a few came in where they preceded to speak in the their own language. I find it very rude. Yes they can talk of duty in there own on time but during work time I think it should be English. 

QrizB

If you're being told that you're not allowed to speak in your national language to other people who also speak it, that's likely to be indirect discrimination and illegal:

https://www.gov.uk/discrimination-your-rights

moocowone

I broadly agree with QrizB, but wonder if there might be some exceptions for safety critical stuff (e.g. it’s safer if everyone speaks English in the operating theatre, rather than having the surgeons talking to each other in a foreign language and the anaesthetist having no idea what’s happening.)

for staff room and casual chit chat, however, speak whatever you want, but be aware that it will exclude some people from the conversation, which could be construed as bullying in some circumstances (but absolutely not all).

Brie

I was a first aider at a medical emergency at work and two of the others started speaking to each other in Welsh.  They apologised to me, said they weren't being rude but it's was easier for them and gave me a short update once they'd finished.  Perfectly acceptable as far as I'm concerned.  Likewise we have a lot of Spanish speakers and they often chat in their own language together.  But they don't do it generally when working or in meetings.  

YBR

I've had this discussed in the workplace too. In my experiences, business and safety-critical communications generally have an agreed language, and recruitment needs to take this into account. When it comes to social chit-chat then we felt it was discriminatory to ask people to never use their own languages while at work.

This does flip if those languages are used against others that don't understand, such as when it excludes, and worse talking about colleagues "behind their back".

LightFlare

As long as it doesn’t compromise the health,safety and welfare of anyone then I can’t see the problem

Marcon

Slightly out of date but still interesting reading: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10623075/NHS-trust-London-accused-colonial-guidelines-telling-staff-speak-ENGLISH.html

Flugelhorn

LightFlare said:

As long as it doesn’t compromise the health,safety and welfare of anyone then I can’t see the problem

I think this the key - TBH rarely happened at work however I have been in situations where an elderly polish patient was distressed and the polish speaking anaesthetist chatted away to her in polish - probably much more calming and likely to have grounded her more quickly 

also 2 nurses in nursing home who were Bulgarian, chatting to each other but the moment there was a visitor, resident or another member of staff around they reverted to English. 

reckon problem can really  come when others feel left out or feel things are being said which shouldn't be - also case of why they are doing it? If to stop others understanding then it is foolish to assume others can't understand your language. 

Undervalued

Marcon said:

Slightly out of date but still interesting reading: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10623075/NHS-trust-London-accused-colonial-guidelines-telling-staff-speak-ENGLISH.html

Not that there would be any bias in the reporting at all, considering the publication!!!

elsien

There is not going to be legislation around who speaks what language at work however, there may be policies and good practice.

Context is all. Chat in staffroom, no problem whatsoever. Ignoring a client, while talking in a different language, more of an issue.

Perhaps the OP might like to provide a few more details? 

Marcon

Undervalued said:

Marcon said:

Slightly out of date but still interesting reading: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10623075/NHS-trust-London-accused-colonial-guidelines-telling-staff-speak-ENGLISH.html

Not that there would be any bias in the reporting at all, considering the publication!!!

Various other nationals reported in similar vein, but this one didn't require registration to read.