Foreign workers speaking their own language in the workplace - acceptable?

whiskeyman

We've had a lot of new foreign workers start in our dept recently.
Let me say, they are a fantastic bunch and we're all a happy team.
However, I've noticed they are increasingly using their own language to speak to each other during office hours. (their English is perfect).
I'm not paranoid thinking their saying things about myself or other colleagues. My issue is if these are work related issues, I'd like to know the issue or give an idea to help - usually we'd overhear each others questions and add ideas etc... that's how our team has to work, as we've expanded a lot recently and are all fairly new starters (myself included).

My question is - should I raise this with my manager?
I know many will probably see it as fickle, but I can see it having an impact on the team.
Has anyone else been in a similar position?

Thanks

county

totally get where your coming from,in my company there is a 'speak only english' policy for the simple reason that communication is a huge part of the job and everyone needs to be understood

BossArky

You should ask them first of all if they are speaking about work or general stuff. I.e if they are just talking about how they fancy the ar$e off you then its probably best if they stick to their own language. Joking aside, it can be tiring to always have to speak English for them, even though their English is perfect... they don't always want to have to concentrate on speaking English when just making a joke or whatever.

Aoife-FM104

Yeah I think it's unacceptable too. When I walk into a cafe and everyone is speaking Polish or French or whatever it makes me think "unprofessional".

You could even consider it rude, perhaps.

Wishbone Ash

county wrote:

totally get where your coming from,in my company there is a 'speak only english' policy for the simple reason that communication is a huge part of the job and everyone needs to be understood

What if an employee wished to communicate in our first official language? Would they not be entitled to do so under Article 8 of Bunreacht na hEireann?

Aoife-FM104 wrote:

Yeah I think it's unacceptable too. When I walk into a cafe and everyone is speaking Polish or French or whatever it makes me think "unprofessional".

You could even consider it rude, perhaps.

It probably depends where the cafe is located. Staff speaking Polish in a Warsaw cafe. :eek:

Just because one doesn't understand a language, I don't see how that can be construed as being rude. I think if I was chatting to fellow Irish worker in a non-English speaking country, I would probably speak in English.

county

Wishbone Ash wrote:

What if an employee wished to communicate in our first official language? Would they not be entitled to do so under Article 8 of Bunreacht na hEireann?
entitled,yes of course,would they be understood,no

BossArky

I have lived in France and Germany whilst working for prolonged periods of time and can tell you that the last thing you want to be doing all day even when cracking jokes etc with English speaking colleagues is have to translate them in your ceann and broadcast to everyone else who is within earshot.

That said, of course if I was in a coffee corner and talking about something I would try to integrate whoever is around by speaking French or German.

So, if you haven't experienced it yourself don't knock some foreigners unless you know their motives / topics of conversation.

godtabh

I think in a lot of offices these days you'll have people from all over the world.

We have a few foregin people two are from the same country and they have a good laugh in Polish together but if they are working with other people in a group its all english.

You do wonder some times if they are talking about people in the office but I think thats just the same as going in to the break area and every one stop talking when you walk in.

Its all in the mind!

DublinWriter

whiskeyman wrote:

Has anyone else been in a similar position?

Basically, you're stating that you're pissed off because you can't evesdrop on conversations in which you are not invited to directly participate in, and now you want to 'shop' these people to your management?

Pass the sickbag someone.

Many moons ago I worked in one Irish organisation as a mananger overseeing a couple of deaf people who always communicated in sign-language to each other. Instead of reporting such communication to management as you seem to suggest, I made an effort to understand their language and learnt a lot about their culture by learning basic sign-language. I learnt that they don't view sign-language as a subsitute for English, but as a language and sub-culture in its own right.

Sonnenblumen

Aoife-FM104 wrote:

Yeah I think it's unacceptable too. When I walk into a cafe and everyone is speaking Polish or French or whatever it makes me think "unprofessional".

You could even consider it rude, perhaps.

Whats unprofessional about being able to speak two languages, when you can, where's the problem?

Change the channel!

leeroybrown

I've worked in a workplace where co-workers spoke both English and French. The working language of the office was English but if two of the French speakers were discussing something directly they would often use French despite their perfect conversational English. None of my co-workers ever had a problem with this. I think the important point here is that as long as the working language of the office (English in this case) is used where input from others is actually needed there shouldn't be a problem.

I don't think it's fair to say that it's a case of someone wanting to 'shop' their co-workers. Multiple languages could become an issue in the office if not managed correctly. The impression I get is that language is an issue now because general working practices have yet to fully adapt to an expanded office. While overhearing/suggesting is a good way to work in a small office it quickly shows cracks in a larger working group.

I also think that it is a silly suggestion that cafe workers are "unprofessional" if they speak their native language among themselves while working. If every foreign worker had to speak English at all times to appease picky idiot customers they wouldn't have very nice working environments.

John R

Aoife-FM104 wrote:

Yeah I think it's unacceptable too. When I walk into a cafe and everyone is speaking Polish or French or whatever it makes me think "unprofessional".

You could even consider it rude, perhaps.

Only if they tried to speak to non Polish or French speaking customers in those languages.

Other than that why would it bother you? Are you desperate to eavesdrop on the conversation of coffee shop employees or are you paranoid that they are talking about you?

Given the choice I'd rather be stuck listening to a conversation in a language I don't understand than one I do, it's much easier to ignore.

TempestSabre

IMO it rude to do it directly in front of others. But if its a private conversation then no problem. Mind you if its work related its more productive if everyone can understand and thus comment constructively. It would depend how its done.

BossArky

Aoife-FM104 wrote:

Yeah I think it's unacceptable too. When I walk into a cafe and everyone is speaking Polish or French or whatever it makes me think "unprofessional".

You could even consider it rude, perhaps.

Yes, unprofessional people that they are - rudely stomping into your country and speaking their language whilst wiping the counter. What do you want them to do, sing a soliders song? Your comment is possibility the silliest I have seen in a while.

whiskeyman

DublinWriter wrote:

Basically, you're stating that you're pissed off because you can't evesdrop on conversations in which you are not invited to directly participate in, and now you want to 'shop' these people to your management?

Pass the sickbag someone.

You've totally missed my point, and some other's replying have too.
If you had taken time to read it properly, you will have noticed we are all fairly new on an expanded team, and interaction and communication is key for us during the working day in order to share ideas and get to grips with the system and procedures that's all new to us.
My main point is that I may miss important point they may bring up while speaking in their own langauge. I have no problem with them speaking their own language in the canteen or about non work related issues.
I know for a fact they have spoken about work issues, as I can hear work phrases within the conversation. (certain terms are universal).
You should have noticed I said that listening to others in the team (or "eavesdropping" as you put it), is part of our day here, so we can hear others issues and try and help them. That's how we worked beforehand, but I feel this is being hindered now.

Rb

TempestSabre wrote:

IMO it rude to do it directly in front of others. But if its a private conversation then no problem.

I agree. I also find it totally unacceptable for foreign workers to start speaking their native language in front of people, in an attempt to make the conversation private.

Whiskeyman: I'd mention it to the management tbh.

TempestSabre

In a way its situational awareness. Not all jobs need this (obviously) but some for instance pilots and traffic controllers its helpful if everyone monitor what others are doing.

That said it depends entirely on the situation. Never really had a problem with myself even on very mixed teams.