C. English-Only Rules
Some employers have instituted workplace policies restricting communication in languages other than English, often called “English-only rules.” In fiscal year 2002, the Commission received 228 charges challenging English-only policies. The application of Title VII to such rules is discussed below.
- Application of Title VII to English-Only Rules
Title VII permits employers to adopt English-only rules under certain circumstances. As with any other workplace policy, an English-only rule must be adopted for nondiscriminatory reasons. An English-only rule would be unlawful if it were adopted with the intent to discriminate on the basis of national origin. Likewise, a policy that prohibits some but not all of the foreign languages spoken in a workplace, such as a no-Navajo rule, would be unlawful.
EXAMPLE 19
ENGLISH-ONLY RULE: INTENTIONAL DISCRIMINATION
XYZ Textile Corp. adopts a policy requiring employees to speak only English while in the workplace, including when speaking to coworkers during breaks or when making personal telephone calls. XYZ places Hispanic workers under close scrutiny to ensure compliance and replaces workers who violate the rule with non-Hispanics. Jose, a native Spanish speaker, files a charge with the EEOC alleging that the policy discriminates against him based on his national origin. XYZ states that the rule was adopted to promote better employee relations and to help improve English skills. However, the investigation reveals no evidence of poor employee relations due to communication in languages other than English. Nor are proficient English skills required for any of the positions held by non-native English speakers. Because XYZ’s explanation is contradicted by the evidence, the English-only rule is unlawful.(47)
Even where an English-only rule has been adopted for nondiscriminatory reasons, the employer’s use of the rule should relate to specific circumstances in its workplace.(48) An English-only rule is justified by “business necessity” if it is needed for an employer to operate safely or efficiently. The following are some situations in which business necessity would justify an English-only rule:
* For communications with customers, coworkers, or supervisors who only speak English
* In emergencies or other situations in which workers must speak a common language to promote safety
* For cooperative work assignments in which the English-only rule is needed to promote efficiency
* To enable a supervisor who only speaks English to monitor the performance of an employee whose job duties require communication with coworkers or customers
The following is an example of a narrowly crafted English-only rule promoting safety in the workplace.
EXAMPLE 20
PERMISSIBLE ENGLISH-ONLY RULE: PROMOTING SAFETY
XYZ Petroleum Corp. operates an oil refinery and has a rule requiring all employees to speak only English during an emergency. The rule also requires that employees speak in English while performing job duties in laboratories and processing areas where there is the danger of fire or explosion. The rule does not apply to casual conversations between employees in the laboratory or processing areas when they are not performing a job duty. The English-only rule does not violate Title VII because it is narrowly tailored to safety requirements.(49)
2. Best Practices
In evaluating whether to adopt an English-only rule, an employer should weigh business justifications for the rule against possible discriminatory effects of the rule. While there is no precise test for making this evaluation, relevant considerations include:
* Evidence of safety justifications for the rule
* Evidence of other business justifications for the rule, such as supervision or effective communication with customers
* Likely effectiveness of the rule in carrying out objectives
* English proficiency of workers affected by the rule(50)
Before adopting an English-only rule, the employer should consider whether there are any alternatives to an English-only rule that would be equally effective in promoting safety or efficiency.
EXAMPLE 21
ENGLISH-ONLY RULE: NONDISCRIMINATORY ALTERNATIVE
At a management meeting of XYZ Electronics Co., a supervisor proposes that the company adopt an English-only rule to decrease tensions among its ethnically diverse workforce. He reports that two of the employees he supervises, Ann and Vinh, made derogatory comments in Vietnamese about their coworkers. Because such examples of misconduct are isolated and thus can be addressed effectively under the company’s discipline policy, XYZ decides that the circumstances do not justify adoption of a facility-wide English-only rule. To reduce the likelihood of future incidents, XYZ supervisors are instructed to counsel line employees about appropriate workplace conduct.(51)
An employer should ensure that affected employees are notified about an English-only rule and the consequences for violation. The employer may provide notice by any reasonable means under the circumstances, such as a meeting, e-mail, or posting. In some cases, it may be necessary for an employer to provide notice in English and in the other native languages spoken by its workers. A grace period before the effective date of the rule also may be required to ensure that all workers have received notice.
They were cool, and never gave up our secrets. It was especially funny around the Mexicans, because they could obviously speak English to me at the same (if not maybe higher with some) level of communication that I we could in Spanish, but we’d switch to Spanish whenever it became necessary.