I am curious how many facilities have an "English Only" rule, and how/whether it is enforced.
I work at a SNF in which the vast majority of the employees are from the Philippines. Although we have an "English Only" rule, it seems that they have no interest in abiding by it, although all are fluent in English. Since I am one of only two white employees, I guess there isn't much I can do about it. It does bother me, though, when we are on our lunch break, and all of them are speaking their own language and I am the only one who does not understand the conversation!
I am curious if others have the same situation where they work, and if so, how they deal with it. Thanks.
Specializes in Telemetry, ICU, Resource Pool, Dialysis.
Nice way of explaining things, queenjean!
I just think some people are having a hard time growing up. There is no rule of common courtesy that states that you are entitled to be included in EVERY conversation held in public or work areas. If someone is worried that they are being "talked about," maybe they should examine their own self-esteem and investigate some ways to improve it!!
Specializes in NICU, Mother-baby, home health care.
We don't have that rule at my hosp. I live on a border town and the vast majority speak Spanish (including Caucasians); however, I do not engage in Spanish conversations when others do not understand. Don't do it while on the clock either and since I rarely get a lunch or break, it is safe to say that the times I speak it is when translating (which is a whole lot).
It is common courtesy. There are other nurses who speak Tagolog or other languages and I observe the same common courtesy.
It is plain rude.
Jessy, I'm like you, I'm a caucasian but speak fluent spanish. When I was a CNA working in San Diego, the majority of the nurses and cna's were from the philipines and spoke their native tongue despite the fact that there was an "english only" rule. I understand that it's the language they are more comfortable with, however in the presence of others who do not speak their language, it's rude. I would never speak spanish to another co-worker if others were around that could not understand. Just out of respect for them, so they don't feel they are being talked about or something like that.
Specializes in NICU, Mother-baby, home health care.
If it involves patient care, then I agree that english should be spoken, but if you people are talking about something else outside of patient care then I really could care less what language they spoke.
The OP mentions being in the breakroom and not understanding the conversations. Flame me if you wish, but I am not obligated to include EVERYONE in the room (or in my immediate surroundings) in my conversation. If I am speaking in a another laguage in a room full of people, it is because what I am talking about is none of their business.
Thank you!! And this is what I failed to mention in my other reply. If this is in the breakroom, and obviously not about patient care, then who cares if they are speaking their native tongue. But out on the floor, if its concerning any part of patient care, it might be something that everyone needs to hear or understand.
Specializes in Dialysis, Nephrology & Cosmetic Surgery.
Thank you!! And this is what I failed to mention in my other reply. If this is in the breakroom, and obviously not about patient care, then who cares if they are speaking their native tongue. But out on the floor, if its concerning any part of patient care, it might be something that everyone needs to hear or understand.
Does that mean to say if you were one of five nurses on break and the other four were chatting amongst themselves in a language you didn't understand, you wouldn't feel a little uncomfortable? Put another way, if you were one of a group of nurses and you were one of the four that spoke a second language and one nurse didn't would you strike up a conversation with the other other nurses knowing that one of them would be totally excluded from the conversation?
The only time it has ever bothered me was when two coworkers were talking in their own language and mentioned my name. If I'm being talked about, I want to know what's being said! And I said that to them.
We have 4 hospitals in border areas. English is the required language unless the patient is a Spanish speaker only. We have a mix of Spanish, Tagalog, Nigerian and Indian dialect speakers. English is the only common language. Our Nursing leadership enforces the rule and will also inform physicians that we speak only English when at the Team station or addressing facility personnel.
We reinforce the need to speak English with the Department managers on a regular basis so as not to be rude to other employees and to ensure accurate communications. We do use counseling to address the issue for those who do not comply with the requirement.
As with all things, it starts with the facility's leadership and works its way down.
Like it or not, it is a commonly held belief in the western world that speaking another language in front of someone else (WHEN you are capable of speaking a common language) is just plain rude....like picking your nose in public or farting in an elevator. You can argue that it is your right to do all of the above but expect some chagrin on the part of those who have to reside within your space.
Speak English at work when on the clock; it's a matter of patient safety and in most hospitals, it is the policy.
I'm not a hard liner though; if I walk into the break room and you are in the middle of a conversation in your language, continue please. I do not expect you to revert to English because I am all of a sudden present. However, it is just plain rude to start a conversation and continue it for some length of time in front of another person when you are all capable of speaking the same language. Have some class and forgo asserting your linguistic rights please.
Ha! As a mostly-English-speaking, college-class-spanish-speaking girl living in Miami, I believe that we must have a Spanish-Only rule down here. hehehehe
Doctors, patients, nurses, techs, food delivery guys, etc., allllllll speak spanish, and if there is someone around---a "foreigner" like me---who happens not to understand, well, then, "Lo siento, mami, you shouldn't have moved to miami!" :-D
i don't mind, most times, because i've really improved my spanish from that formal conversation stuff they teach you in college. The only time i mind is when people treat me like i'm stupid because i don't understand, instead of just uneducated.....
but i know that when i lived in wisconsin and ohio, there were probably so many times that people who didn't speak english were made to feel stupid rather than uneducated in that particular arena (not by me, mind you, but in general), that i guess it's just my gringo karma coming around :-D
I have found if you actually speak to those concerned about speaking in their own language, they readily convert back to English and include you in the conversation. Half the time they dont realise they are doing it.
However when you are new to the place of work it is quite upsetting as you are already learning to work in a new environment and it just adds to your fragile state of mind.
I often work in a border town and there are always nurses and case managers sitting at the nurse's station talking incessantly, and loudly, in Spanish. More than once, I have had to ask them to tone it down just so I could hear a doctor on the phone!
I think there is a decided lack of consideration for others when people do that. It is rude, to say the least.
You should be able to speak any language while in the "break room" unless you are eavesdropping! If you don't understand the language than how would you presumed it is not "personal." If they want to speak in their language let them!!!!!!! You don't see this dilemma in Europe. Only in the good old USA.
Believe me it does happen in Europe-it's just not many Europeans or Brits actually post on here-which may be a good thing as British people are more forthright and there would be lots more arguments:chuckle
I used to find myself becoming annoyed at my co-worker's use of other languages to communicate with each other. Then I realized, that I was not part of the conversation, so what difference should it make? I was also taught that eavesdropping or butting into a conversation that you are not included in is rude. My co-workers would always speak to me in English, and they never ignored me.
This isn't kindergarten anymore. I think there are more important issues to get upset about.
yes, there are other more more important things to worry about. but, when a code is being run and the language they start speaking is other than english becuase they are in a "fight" state of mind and since they are so used doing so it is only natural thye revert back to their "original" language. kinda like the 90 y/o demented italian patient who suddenly forgot all the english he learned after coming to america.
all i am saying is that while it might seem petty to some that we get annoyed, yes annoyed not angry or jealous or feel excluded, becuase your coworkers seem not to care about whether or not they are being rude, to me its a matter of being professional and mature.
i speak 3 languages, grew up in nyc and dont might hearing them and others on the street or on the subway. but i do have an issue when it intereferes with pt care.
pricklypear
1,060 Posts
Nice way of explaining things, queenjean!
I just think some people are having a hard time growing up. There is no rule of common courtesy that states that you are entitled to be included in EVERY conversation held in public or work areas. If someone is worried that they are being "talked about," maybe they should examine their own self-esteem and investigate some ways to improve it!!
Come-on, folks!! Grow up!