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Staff forced to speak english by mcdonalds

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Reply 100

Amb1
If I were living and working in another country and benefitting from it's systems...etc. then I would endeavour to speak the native language at all times.


Even with your family and friends?

Reply 101

Amb1
I think it's rude to speak in another language when you are perfectly able to speak in English. When I am in a foreign country I do my best to speak the native language. And that's only when I'm on holiday. If I were living and working in another country and benefitting from it's systems...etc. then I would endeavour to speak the native language at all times. You can't expect to be fully accepted as a citizen if you don't.


Yes of course you would!

You would undoubtedly attempt to speak French, Swahili or whatever other language if you were addressing somebody native to that country.

But if you met an English person on your trip to (let's say) Spain, would you put yourself through the hassle of trying to communicate in Spanish (a language which isn't natural to either of you)? No you would (quite rightly) revert to English.

It's simple really. :smile:

Reply 102

Werther
You have ignored my post further back in the thread asking you to consider the practicality of what you demand.



I don't think I ever addressed a point you made. In fact I didn't notice the points you raised.

Reply 103

Who the hell cares what language people speak?! :confused:

All I want is my Big Mac and Fries! :rolleyes:

Reply 104

shiny
Who the hell cares what language people speak?! :confused:

All I want is my Big Mac and Fries! :rolleyes:


Yes, but can you ask for it in Urdu?

Reply 105

Howard
Yes, but can you ask for it in Urdu?

Yeah, it's Big Mac and Fries! :rolleyes:

Reply 106

shiny
Yeah, it's Big Mac and Fries! :rolleyes:


Probably.

Reply 107

padraic
I don't think I ever addressed a point you made. In fact I didn't notice the points you raised.


A masterful comeback!

Since I took time to rebutt your argument you could at least consider reading my response.

Reply 108

fishpaste
I don't know what the scandal is. Of course staff should speak english all of the time. That's the language of England. My school and 6th form had an "english at all times when in a classroom" policy. Mainly because people would not speak in english in order to insult somebody else in the class who couldn't speak their language. The policy worked very well. When a bunch of people segregate themselves off and speak in a language that isn't english it's very obnoxious.


This is one of those things were the executives should just sit down for a sec and think about what on earth they are doing. I can very well understand why they would want to impose such regulations, but they will have to expect a reaction when they do not even try to put it forward in a form that makes it clear that the refulations are not meant to restrict anyone's rightto communicate in their mother tounge. One thing is to say that they prefer if employers communicate using english because it will then be understandable to the entir estaff, another thing is to tell employees not to use their own language over a cigarette during their coffee break. In short, I see nothing wrong with trying to encourage employees to use a language that the entire staff can understand, however, that is far different from telling people they are not allowed to use their native language at work.

Reply 109

Hmm, in a kitchen/restaurant environment, it is imperative that everyone understands what is going on. If some staff are talking in Urdu or Mandarin then that is not possible. If Joe goes to the local McDonalds™, and is served by Dutchman Rolf, while Dutchman Jon and Englishman Steve are cooking burgers, if Joe tells Rolf, "No onion please", and Rolf tells Jon "Geen uien met die orde", then Steve won't know that Joe doesn't want onion. And if Steve then cooks Joe's burger, he will put onion in it and Joe will be unhappy. That's just an example of why multilingual discussion is bad for McDonalds™.

But if you want to argue off-topic about whether English Dutchmen should speak English or Dutch to other English Dutchmen while in England (or Spain), and what the role of the Home Office is in this, then you should go ahead and ignore this post...

Reply 110

Jonatan
This is one of those things were the executives should just sit down for a sec and think about what on earth they are doing. I can very well understand why they would want to impose such regulations, but they will have to expect a reaction when they do not even try to put it forward in a form that makes it clear that the refulations are not meant to restrict anyone's rightto communicate in their mother tounge. One thing is to say that they prefer if employers communicate using english because it will then be understandable to the entir estaff, another thing is to tell employees not to use their own language over a cigarette during their coffee break. In short, I see nothing wrong with trying to encourage employees to use a language that the entire staff can understand, however, that is far different from telling people they are not allowed to use their native language at work.


You replied while I was typing. How wude! :biggrin:

Good point though. But someone said the original memo was from a junior manager somewhere.

Reply 111

Dr_Death
Hmm, in a kitchen/restaurant environment, it is imperative that everyone understands what is going on. If some staff are talking in Urdu or Mandarin then that is not possible. If Joe goes to the local McDonalds™, and is served by Dutchman Rolf, while Dutchman Jon and Englishman Steve are cooking burgers, if Joe tells Rolf, "No onion please", and Rolf tells Jon "Geen uien met die orde", then Steve won't know that Joe doesn't want onion. And if Steve then cooks Joe's burger, he will put onion in it and Joe will be unhappy. That's just an example of why multilingual discussion is bad for McDonalds.

WTF??!! :confused: What type of crazy made-up scenario is this?

Reply 112

Whats the big deal?... they are at work! you do things you dont wanna! its not like they are being banned out side of it!

Reply 113

shiny
WTF??!! :confused: What type of crazy made-up scenario is this?


That is the sort of scenario which occurs in McDonalds style kitchens, where some staff talking their own private language about work-related things would be bad for the kitchen and the customers...

Reply 114

Dr_Death


So in a busy kitchen, all communications should be in the same language. It is common sense really.


Traditionally the language used in Kitchens is French, in the same way the language used by air traffic control is English.

BTW for all the - "you are living in England, speak English" people, the government has introduced rules that if you want British citizenzhip you must have a level of competence in one of the recognised British languages.

English, Gaelic, Welsh, BSL

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