We have a multi-lingual workforce. Can we insist that all staff only speak English while at work?
Posted in : First Tuesday Q&A ROI on 7 March 2017
Julie Austin
McDowell Purcell
Many workplaces are made up of several nationalities some of whom do not speak English as their native tongue. We are often asked by multi-cultural employers if they can introduce a company policy whereby employees are only permitted to speak English while at work.
This issue was dealt with in a Workplace Relations Commission (“WRC”) decision in January 2017 in the case of A General Operative v A Medical Device Company ADJ-00001835. In this case, a Polish employee claimed that she had been discriminated against on the grounds of race and nationality when she was instructed by her supervisor to speak English when working on a production line with others of a different nationality. The
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Back to Q&A's This article is correct at 07/03/2017
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Julie Austin
McDowell Purcell
The main content of this article was provided by Julie Austin. Contact telephone number is +353 1 828 0600 or email jaustin@mcdowellpurcell.ie
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