English only please?

Andrea Burns post 10

A major problem with having a multiethnic society is the many different languages in use, especially here in the United States where we have no official language. English, being the language used in schools and businesses, tends to be the expected language to use. As mentioned in class through the Sephora example, it is usually expected in the workplace as well. The question asked was whether the Sephora store was out of line in forbading the employees to use Spanish in the workplace. In my opinion, on some level they were out of line and yet they weren't. I feel the employees should be allowed to speak to each other in Spanish while on break in the back. That is their time to be spent as they wish, and they are not in front of customers. The use of Spanish should not be forbidden in that instance. However I do agree with the store's decision to not allow the employees to speak to one another in Spanish on the floor in front of customers. English is the language that is would be used between a customer and employee most commonly, while some Spanish is used there. If the employees are speaking a different language to each other that is not understood by the customer, the customer will feel that they are unapproachable and not as likely to seek their assistance. At least I know I wouldn't. Their use of Spanish wouldn't make me paranoid that they're speaking about me, but I would feel uncomfortable approaching them since they were conversing in a language I do not understand very well. I don't feel that the store was trying to discriminate, but rather just looking after their own economic interests.