Gaeltacht man leaves job after being told not to speak Irish

Shenshen · 08-09-2016 04:11PM

valoren wrote: »

What kind of arse hole complains about something like that?
Why would it bother you?
Did they think they were mocking them as gaeilge?

How do you know the people complaining realised he was speaking Irish? They might well have though he was another Pole or Lithuanian and complained because, you know, foreigners? Wouldn't be the first time, I think

Laika123 · 08-09-2016 04:13PM

valoren wrote: »

What kind of arse hole complains about something like that?
Why would it bother you?
Did they think they were mocking them as gaeilge?

I'd bet a punt or two it was CaePea.

Tombo2001 · 08-09-2016 04:13PM

OP, I am looking at your post history across other threads.

You have some amount of hate for the Irish language pal. I'm not sure that's healthy.

"Well, for my part, I would absoutley ban people from using Irish"

"There is no art, literature or theatre in Irish. It a dead language, by default nothing of worth is happening in it "

"thank god the vast majority never act on such foolishness and the language continues its slow death "

"Anyone with an ounce of patriotism in their body should hate the Irish language."

"And rightly so, the greatest gift the British ever gave us was their language"

"People with Irish as their mother tongue are like bigfoot, some people insist that they exist, but they never manage to show any evidence."

"Irish speakers have BILLIONS of tax payers money wasted on them every year."

"Oppression, getting rid of Irish would be to liberate its speakers from their ignorence"

"Well lets see, billions of euros wasted every year, our childrens education compromised by being forcefed a useless dead language, not to mention those poor souls who are educated (I use the term loosely) in Irish. It is a wast of time, a drain on our economey, it makes us a laughing stock in Europe"

....................

That's quite a one man campaign you've got going there.

Laika123 · 08-09-2016 04:14PM

CaePae wrote: »

Friend shared it on Facebook. Allways nice the see that entitled shower of leaches get a kick now and again.

If your going to use english use it properly, it's always, not allways.

Harvey Normal · 08-09-2016 04:15PM

Is there any other customer complaints that should be listened to if doing so contravenes the law? I mean customers could be upset by anything, by a gay employee, or an employee who is Arabic or Muslim. I'm pretty sure that companies can't in fact discriminate against their employees illegally because it upsets customers. As to why customers would get upset by the Irish language being spoken in Ireland, who knows why? It seems odd.

I was in a Welsh speaking cafe in Wales once where a florid English couple stormed out because Welsh was being spoken. UKIP types I suspect. I didn't stick around but I doubt the manager fired the Welsh speaking staff.

As for the guy not returning to do a shift, presumably you don't have to if you feel you are being discriminated against and are perusing a case for discrimination or constructive dismissal.

CaePae · 08-09-2016 04:16PM

Laika123 wrote: »

I'd bet a punt or two it was CaePea.

Haha, well I would have if I had been there. Not from Cork though so don't go into the pubs there too often. I'll have to call in the next time im down that way though.

B.A._Baracus · 08-09-2016 04:18PM

Well he stuck to his guns and refused so he got the axe. No big deal really.
No different than refusing to wear a company uniform etc.

If he didn't really care about the job then I can see why he refused to stop speaking it. But if he is annoyed by this... Then it has to be said that what did he think would happen.

Harvey Normal · 08-09-2016 04:20PM

Shenshen wrote: »

How do you know the people complaining realised he was speaking Irish? They might well have though he was another Pole or Lithuanian and complained because, you know, foreigners? Wouldn't be the first time, I think

Could well be the case. I suspect were it the case, opinions would be different. Some people might have the diametrically opposite opinion regarding a customer criticising staff speaking the Irish language as opposed to a customer criticising staff speaking the polish language. Either customer would be monoglot bigots but there's a hint of "liberal" tolerance for the former.

That said Irish is probably more protected in law than polish, being an official language and all.

Harvey Normal · 08-09-2016 04:24PM

B.A._Baracus wrote: »

Well he stuck to his guns and refused so he got the axe. No big deal really.
No different than refusing to wear a company uniform etc.

If he didn't really care about the job then I can see why he refused to stop speaking it. But if he is annoyed by this... Then it has to be said that what did he think would happen.

Not quite. There are things that companies can demand, and things they can't. For instance the company may demand clean shaven customer facing staff, which is all very well until you fire (or refuse to hire) the Sikh. The companies rights are superceded by equality laws, in many circumstances. The Sikh doesn't have to comply, but if you have no religious reason for a beard you will.

In this case it isn't equality legislation, but the fact is that Irish is an official language, and that is what matters.

Wigglepuppy · 08-09-2016 04:27PM

Tombo2001 wrote: »

Sad day if we cant speak Irish in Ireland any more.

We can though - this is just a likely exaggerated single incident.

Gatling · 08-09-2016 04:28PM

So now we're the Taliban,
Add to the list

Snobs
Racists
Elitists

You would almost think native speakers have carried out crimes the way some people go on

steddyeddy · 08-09-2016 04:30PM

What gets me is that some of the posters who complain about Islamophobia justify this because people are uncomfortable with the language. Unfortunately being uncomfortable with a language or culture isn't a virtue.

Ted111 · 08-09-2016 04:31PM

Fionn Mac Cumhaill will be turning in his grave.

andekwarhola · 08-09-2016 04:33PM

Personally I'd like to know if there's more to the story.

I'm actually in favour of saving and promoting our language but when I see stories like this, I'd like to be sure it really is discrimination or a draconian directive rather than a zealot gaelgoir job.

B.A._Baracus · 08-09-2016 04:34PM

Harvey Normal wrote: »

Not quite. There are things that companies can demand, and things they can't. For instance the company may demand clean shaven customer facing staff, which is all very well until you fire (or refuse to hire) the Sikh. The companies rights are superceded by equality laws, in many circumstances.

I know what you're saying. That's why companies have to be careful (as you say a Sikh, imagine the **** storm if they told such a person to shave their beard lol)

But at the end of the day no sympathy should be given to this bloke. He refused to do something. He easily could have said 'no problem boss' and looked for another job or even continue to speak it behind the bosses back / when he is not around. Use the head.

My point is refusing to do something or in this case to stop doing something is a sure way to get fired. Then what? The rent still needs to get paid.

CaePae · 08-09-2016 04:35PM

Gatling wrote: »

So now we're the Taliban,
Add to the list

Snobs
Racists
Elitists

You would almost think native speakers have carried out crimes the way some people go on

I think taking the state for all its worth for the last 100 years and forcing a useless dead leanguage on everyone else is up there in terms of crimes.

Laika123 · 08-09-2016 04:35PM

B.A._Baracus wrote: »

I know what you're saying. That's why companies have to be careful (as you say a Sikh, imagine the **** storm if they told such a person to shave their beard lol)

But at the end of the day no sympathy should be given to this bloke. He refused to do something. He easily could have said 'no problem boss' and looked for another job or even continue to speak it behind the bosses back / when he is not around. Use the head.

My point is refusing to do something or in this case to stop doing something is a sure way to get fired. Then what? The rent still needs to get paid.

He didn't get fired, he resigned.

livedadream · 08-09-2016 04:37PM

im a native irish speaker and havnt got a problem with being told to speak english at work.

why be difficult, yes if im on the phone to my dad or someone ill chat away in english but to my colleague etc its english.

the guy was being a dick, he'll happily admit it, its not like he was working in a serious job or that it was a serious thing, the owner tells everyone in there to speak english to no one feels singled out.

B.A._Baracus · 08-09-2016 04:39PM

Laika123 wrote: »

He didn't get fired, he resigned.

I stand corrected

Then what's the big deal here tho?

livedadream · 08-09-2016 04:40PM

B.A._Baracus wrote: »

I stand corrected

Then what's the big deal here tho?

he said he was forced to resign because he couldn't speak his native language.

he refused to start his shift after being told to speak english. he was told if he refused it would be considered failure to show up to do his job and his P45 was posted to him.

scamalert · 08-09-2016 04:41PM

Now being foreigner myself could see how it would be wrong to fire someone for using "native language" since as pointed in many places foreigners would speak between themselves most time in their own native language,but its obvious that it makes people uncomfortable who speak English.

Thus learned to respect that and either let people in onto conversation or just use it whenever it didn't interfere with others.

but living for decade in Ireland and seeing that after 6 years of Irish classes kids cant put 2 sentences together,and government spending millions each year to translate every road sign and text into Irish when,having met maybe couple of people who would manage to keep proper conversation in Irish,seems pointless if people dont use it,and few communities that keep it alive,when most dont even care for it.

steddyeddy · 08-09-2016 04:42PM

scamalert wrote: »

Now being foreigner myself could see how it would be wrong to fire someone for using "native language" since as pointed in many places foreigners would speak between themselves most time in their own native language,but its obvious that it makes people uncomfortable who speak English.

Thus learned to respect that and either let people in onto conversation or just use it whenever it didn't interfere with others.

but living for decade in Ireland and seeing that after 6 years of Irish classes kids cant put 2 sentences together,and government spending millions each year to translate every road sign and text into Irish when,having met maybe couple of people who would manage to keep proper conversation in Irish,seems pointless if people dont use it,and few communities that keep it alive.

What about people who feel uncomfortable with Muslim people's use of Arabic? Should they be catered for?

seamus · 08-09-2016 04:43PM

steddyeddy wrote: »

I don't want to go down a route in Ireland where people can be laid off because someone is uncomfortable with another language been spoken. Whether that language is Chinese, Arabic, Kiswahili or Irish.

I have no problem with someone being fired for refusing to stick to company policy.

I don't see the "slippery slope" argument at all. It's one thing speaking to a customer in their own language, it's another thing speaking in a language that your colleagues and customers don't understand.

bobbysands81 · 08-09-2016 04:44PM

osarusan wrote: »

Young man fired for not following company policy.

Dead right. I presume you'll support me in firing all my black, gay, disabled and female staff?

CaePae · 08-09-2016 04:45PM

seamus wrote: »

I have no problem with someone being fired for refusing to stick to company policy.

I don't see the "slippery slope" argument at all. It's one thing speaking to a customer in their own language, it's another thing speaking in a language that your colleagues and customers don't understand.

I didn't realise he was speaking Irish to customers and colleagues who didn't understand Irish. That is clearly very ignorent, no wonder he got the sack.

B.A._Baracus · 08-09-2016 04:45PM

livedadream wrote: »

he said he was forced to resign because he couldn't speak his native language.

he refused to start his shift after being told to speak english. he was told if he refused it would be considered failure to show up to do his job and his P45 was posted to him.

the old do it or else...
Honestly I have no sympathy for the chap. Of all the things to lose a job over like.

Grayson · 08-09-2016 04:46PM

Laika123 wrote: »

I know, disgraceful, I was in France and the knobhead behind the bar was speaking French, idiot.

A more accurate example would be if you were in paris and he was speaking breatnais (gaelic).

steddyeddy · 08-09-2016 04:47PM

seamus wrote: »

I have no problem with someone being fired for refusing to stick to company policy.

I don't see the "slippery slope" argument at all. It's one thing speaking to a customer in their own language, it's another thing speaking in a language that your colleagues and customers don't understand.

I'm based in the UK where there are many reports of people being uncomfortable with Arabic or Farsi spoken. One of my colleagues is a Muslim chap who speaks Farsi to his kids. Work has no problem with this but he has been told to "speak English" on a bus or train. Some people might be uncomfortable with the language but there are others who are bigoted against a language or culture.

If we honour the complaints of people uncomfortable with a language then (in the UK at least) we set a dangerous precedent.

steddyeddy · 08-09-2016 04:48PM

Grayson wrote: »

A more accurate example would be if you were in paris and he was speaking breatnais (gaelic).

St.Malo is a good example of this. A wonderful Welsh sounding language.

Laika123 · 08-09-2016 04:49PM

Grayson wrote: »

A more accurate example would be if you were in paris and he was speaking breatnais (gaelic).

He probably was?

Gaeltacht man leaves job after being told not to speak Irish

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