Why is it that some CNA/LPN/RN think it's ok....

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Why is it that some CNA/LPN/RN think it's ok to speak their native language (foreign language) infront of an english speaking co-worker??? Is it because the constitution gurantee us freedom of speech?? I hope not because that could mean I could cuss using as may four letter words at work and still get away with it. My specific issues lies with 3 CNA's on the night shift at work they happened to speak creole for about 1/2 hour straight, and we all know that body language and tone transcend word and I just can tell when what they are saying is not good. There are also Filipinos at my job that speak their language but not as much and not with venom in their voice and then there are indians too that speak theri language.

My issue is that I'm not trying to pi$$ of anyone but I'm getting pi$$ed of in the process?? What's a girl to do?? I'm not a native born American so I understand the need to connect to your people but these people make it hard for me to trust them?? If you speak creole I want to hear what you have to say, If you're filipino too, if you are indian too? And if you just speak english??? What can I do to allude to the behavior being inappropriate without stirring up hatred for myself???

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

This is a major annoyance to many people, but funny enough, it does not get to me. As far as I am concerned, if the conversation does not involve work related issues, it is their private conversation for them to say what they please and how they say they want to say it. Even if they are saying derogatory things about me in particular, maybe it is better that I DON'T know (there would be a serious argument if I could comprehend that someone was calling me the "B" word). Again, these are just my personal thoughts on this matter...I feel that I cannot get people to do what I perceive as appropriate anymore than they can get me to do the same. When some folks see their native people, they fall into their natural habits...it may always be personal.

I have seen, though, where this behavior has really, really ****** people off. What I would like to ask from you, though (and this is not being said to make light of your feelings, or mock you), what is it about their conversations that make you want to know what is being said? Is it that the body language when you appear suddenly becomes suspect? I would probably address THAT, more than what they are actually speaking their own language amongest themselves if it does not involve me. I would say "I do not speak your language and sometimes, your behavior makes me think that I am the butt of some jokes." Id they continue to do so, then, you may have an indication of some snarky folks.

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This is a major annoyance to many people, but funny enough, it does not get to me. As far as I am concerned, if the conversation does not involve work related issues, it is their private conversation for them to say what they please and how they say they want to say it. Even if they are saying derogatory things about me in particular, maybe it is better that I DON'T know (there would be a serious argument if I could comprehend that someone was calling me the "B" word). Again, these are just my personal thoughts on this matter...I feel that I cannot get people to do what I perceive as appropriate anymore than they can get me to do the same. When some folks see their native people, they fall into their natural habits...it may always be personal.

I have seen, though, where this behavior has really, really ****** people off. What I would like to ask from you, though (and this is not being said to make light of your feelings, or mock you), what is it about their conversations that make you want to know what is being said? Is it that the body language when you appear suddenly becomes suspect? I would probably address THAT, more than what they are actually speaking their own language amongest themselves if it does not involve me. I would say "I do not speak your language and sometimes, your behavior makes me think that I am the butt of some jokes." Id they continue to do so, then, you may have an indication of some snarky folks.

It not just about me, I'm an LPN by the way, it also about other people that are subjected to this and say nothing but come in every day looking broken down and worn like they have reached the point where they don't care anymore. I do know that they talk about me because I asked a CNA once to change the padding underneath a resident because it was soaked with tube feeding after the tube came loose and drained over the pad, she told me "Not now!!!" In a very authoritive way like I was her kid (so i asked her when in a ****** of demanding tone)the next day when her other friend who I would say hi to came in and they got to talking she start sizing me up and talking in creole while doing so.

I try to ignore it all some days are better that others when it comes to ignoring it. Try being the only nurse on a floor with all your cna's speaking creole for an eight hour shift...it happened to me. This is my 1st nursing job with a couple months so far and I'm getting tired.

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pagandeva2000 do you speak creole, it a bit interesting getting the response that I got from you from a native english speaker. These girls have talked about our supervisor in english infront of me using very vulgar words so I know they undoubtably talk about me because it's not their style to say what they have to say infront of the person that they are talking about. If they are infront of you they switch language. Just like we have dress codes we also need the have codes of conduct that does not cause division in the workplace.
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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

At several hospitals where I have worked - English had to be spoken while on the clock. I have also worked in overseas military hospitals and the same applied - speak English only while on the clock or translating or speaking to a pt.

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Specializes in Wound Care, LTC, Sub-Acute, Vents.

i don't mind my coworkers speaking in their native tongue as long as they don't do it in front of the patients. i also don't mind when i am around them. like pagandeva said, i would rather not know that they are talking about me.

however, i am guilty of doing this as well. at my current work place, there are like 80% filipinos in the night shift and the rest is a mixture of africans, chinese, americans, etc. etc... so when i talk to the filipinos, i talk to them in tagalog. however, when someone joins in the conversation, i would switch to english as a courtesy.

they talk in their language as well so the feelings are mutual. we do get some comments from the ones who only speak english but what can we do. we like talking in our native language.

but i want to clarify something though. when it is work related, we always talk in english.

i understand your situation though because they constantly do this in front of you.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Ignorance is bliss. If someone is talking garbage about me, I really don't want to find out about it. After all, what good will it do if I am now aware that a coworker talks crap about me? I don't have the energy to waste.

I admit that I used to become annoyed by listening to seemingly 'meaningless' chatter in other languages. With the passage of time, I have grown more tolerant of these people and their native tongues. I agree that work areas should be English only, but people still have the right to converse in their own languages.

Sorry, but I don't see the big deal. If a person is talking badly about me in his native tongue, so what? He was too cowardly and nonconfrontational to approach me in the common language that we both understand. There are more consequential things to fret over. Good luck to you!

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
pagandeva2000 do you speak creole, it a bit interesting getting the response that I got from you from a native english speaker. These girls have talked about our supervisor in english infront of me using very vulgar words so I know they undoubtably talk about me because it's not their style to say what they have to say infront of the person that they are talking about. If they are infront of you they switch language. Just like we have dress codes we also need the have codes of conduct that does not cause division in the workplace.

No, I do not speak Creole or any other language than English. You didn't say at first that they also spoke horribly about your supervisor in English, you stated that they were speaking another language in front of you. I work in an area where there are Philipinos, Haitians, Spanish, and other races of employees. I hear conversations going on around me all day, and it doesn't get to me, to be honest. When we need to converse, whether it is work-related, patient related or even casual talk, they communicate to me in English, if they are not talking to me, I am not personally concerned with what they are saying. If I did feel that they were making gestures that were making me uncomfortable, that looks as though it were negatively directed at me, it may be addressed. That, to me is how speaking another language would cause division in the workplace, in my eye. What I do see is that this is not a behavior that is easily going to change and I don't focus on it.

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
Ignorance is bliss. If someone is talking garbage about me, I really don't want to find out about it. After all, what good will it do if I am now aware that a coworker talks crap about me? I don't have the energy to waste.

I admit that I used to become annoyed by listening to seemingly 'meaningless' chatter in other languages. With the passage of time, I have grown more tolerant of these people and their native tongues. I agree that work areas should be English only, but people still have the right to converse in their own languages.

Sorry, but I don't see the big deal. If a person is talking badly about me in his native tongue, so what? He was too cowardly and nonconfrontational to approach me in the common language that we both understand. There are more consequential things to fret over. Good luck to you!

Basically, that is what I am saying...if I really knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that someone was talking about me, I know I would get ******, and it is not productive. During all of my adult years, I have worked with many cultures and am really used to this. So what if they may be speaking about me negatively?? This behavior is not going to change over night, if at all. I'd rather spend my energy worrying about what I can help me make it through the day than trying to decipher whether these people are speaking about me or not.

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Thanks for the comments. It seems like the general consensus is to ignore so I will go with that for now. Could have brought it up with management but don't want to create a situation where it becomes harder for me to do my job in peace. I don't mind if anyone speak their own tongue but leave it for the lunch room.

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Omtime-saye ey-mey end-freys and eye-a eak-spay ig-pay atin-lay in ont-fray ofa ose-they oo-hay eakspay eir-they anguage-lay ithout-way egaurd-ray or-fay other-say.

(sometimes my friends and I speak pig latin in front of those who speak their language without regard for others). I think it is extremely rude to speak a language, at work, other then English. Just as whispering to another person is rude. Save it for your smoke break.

Oh, by the way- The pig latin thing always seems to work, they usually get the point and start speaking English.

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I'd also like to add that I tell everyone I work with that I'm currently enrolled in an intense Tagalog language program. They usually get a kick out of that!

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