Sports Direct Slammed After Notice Appears To Ban Workers From Speaking Welsh

Thorin wrote:

Syl wrote:

Would you find it acceptable for your workmates to whisper to each other...or talk behind their hands so no one else could hear?
The outcome is the same...they are excluding others whether those others are interested or not.

Yes. That is because its a private conversation, which is none of my business. I its my business, they will come and tell me.

They may well be talking about a dickhead boss, which they don;t want a tatter-tale to hear and go running to the boss.

It may well be a surprise they are going to make for someone like a birthday. Hence why unlike you, I do not immediately think negatively if two people were.

So you are talking utter crap again. What gives you the right to be included in every conversation?

Nothing and if you feel that you do, then you are the issue, not them.

Syl wrote:

Thorin wrote:


Yes. That is because its a private conversation, which is none of my business. I its my business, they will come and tell me.

They may well be talking about a dickhead boss, which they don;t want a tatter-tale to hear and go running to the boss.

It may well be a surprise they are going to make for someone like a birthday. Hence why unlike you, I do not immediately think negatively if two people were.

So you are talking utter crap again. What gives you the right to be included in every conversation?

Nothing and if you feel that you do, then you are the issue, not them.

Or it may simply be that they are ignorant and like excluding the majority of their workmates from their tittle tattle.

Thorin wrote:

Syl wrote:

Or it may simply be that they are ignorant and like excluding the majority of their workmates from their tittle tattle.

Again who cares if they are?

That is there choice is it not?

I would not be bothered, because they might both be private people about their lives and thus would respect that. As long as they conversed working, what would it matter. 

You cannot force everyone to like you.

Imagine saying to a woman worker, she most converse with the male worker who daily undresses her with his eyes in general chit chat.

I am sure she would tell you to jog the fuck on.

Raggamuffin wrote:What does it have to do with paranoia? Two people in this thread appear to be completely missing the point, and it's not Syl or me.

Lord Foul wrote:so, if its not paranoia...why does it bother you, that, say two of your colleagues indulge in idle chatter in a language you dont understand??

it can only be a) you are paranoid
or b) you are a nosey old..........

Syl wrote:Or....you respect your colleagues enough to not isolate any of them unecessarily.

To me its the same as whispering or talking behind your hand....its ignorant, especially when English is your first language.

Managing languages at work

• can specify a language of operation, usually English, for business reasons.  However, in Wales some jobs require the holder to speak both English and Welsh
  
  
• can insist on recruiting a job candidate who has skills in English necessary for the job, but it must not select based on assumptions about race, nationality, or ethnic or national origins. Again, in Wales some jobs require the holder to have skills in both English and Welsh necessary for the job
  
  
• should be wary of prohibiting or limiting the use of other languages within the workplace unless they can justify this with a genuine business reason.
  
  

Lord Foul wrote:so, if its not paranoia...why does it bother you, that, say two of your colleagues indulge in idle chatter in a language you dont understand??

it can only be a) you are paranoid
or b) you are a nosey old..........

Raggamuffin wrote:

Lord Foul wrote:so, if its not paranoia...why does it bother you, that, say two of your colleagues indulge in idle chatter in a language you dont understand??

it can only be a) you are paranoid
or b) you are a nosey old..........

Because it makes others feel excluded. I knew someone who was a care worker, but they all spoke a different language to her, and she felt excluded. They could have spoken English.

Raggamuffin wrote:

Lord Foul wrote:so, if its not paranoia...why does it bother you, that, say two of your colleagues indulge in idle chatter in a language you dont understand??

it can only be a) you are paranoid
or b) you are a nosey old..........

Because it makes others feel excluded. I knew someone who was a care worker, but they all spoke a different language to her, and she felt excluded. They could have spoken English.

Thorin wrote:

Managing languages at work

The increased movement of people around the world means it can be quite common for organisations to employ staff from many different countries or ethnic backgrounds. As a result, there may be employees for whom English is not their first language. Often, there may be a number of employees who originate from the same country or share a common language which is not English.
However, an employer:

• can specify a language of operation, usually English, for business reasons.  However, in Wales some jobs require the holder to speak both English and Welsh
  
  
  
• can insist on recruiting a job candidate who has skills in English necessary for the job, but it must not select based on assumptions about race, nationality, or ethnic or national origins. Again, in Wales some jobs require the holder to have skills in both English and Welsh necessary for the job
  
  
• should be wary of prohibiting or limiting the use of other languages within the workplace unless they can justify this with a genuine business reason.
  
  

http://www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=1849

Original Quill wrote:

Raggamuffin wrote:

Because it makes others feel excluded. I knew someone who was a care worker, but they all spoke a different language to her, and she felt excluded. They could have spoken English.

That sounds highly socialist, Raggs.  Feelings...it's social theory, at least.  Have you switched sides?

Syl wrote:

Thorin wrote:

Managing languages at work

The increased movement of people around the world means it can be quite common for organisations to employ staff from many different countries or ethnic backgrounds. As a result, there may be employees for whom English is not their first language. Often, there may be a number of employees who originate from the same country or share a common language which is not English.
However, an employer:

• can specify a language of operation, usually English, for business reasons.  However, in Wales some jobs require the holder to speak both English and Welsh
  
  
  
• can insist on recruiting a job candidate who has skills in English necessary for the job, but it must not select based on assumptions about race, nationality, or ethnic or national origins. Again, in Wales some jobs require the holder to have skills in both English and Welsh necessary for the job
  
  
• should be wary of prohibiting or limiting the use of other languages within the workplace unless they can justify this with a genuine business reason.
  
  

http://www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=1849

Obviously Sports direct is not a company that requires workers to speak Welsh.

“We would like to take this opportunity to remind staff that they must speak in English at all times while they are at work, in order that they can be understood by all members of staff; this includes any personal conversations that may be taking place during work time.”

Raggamuffin wrote:In retail, people have to work as a team. I don't mean they're all doing the same thing at the same time, but it's a fast-moving business generally, and everyone needs to understand all the little things which go wrong, or right.

If I'm having a conversation with someone at work, someone generally comes up and joins in, and that's fine with me. If I want a really personal conversation, I'll wait until after work, or go somewhere private.

Thorin wrote:

Syl wrote:

Obviously Sports direct is not a company that requires workers to speak Welsh.

“We would like to take this opportunity to remind staff that they must speak in English at all times while they are at work, in order that they can be understood by all members of staff; this includes any personal conversations that may be taking place during work time.”

Is that why they apologized to the Welsh workers Syl.

The above is opening the door to discrimination cases and I hope they lose them all.

As private conversations are not a health and safety issue or a problem to the business.

They would get taken to the cleaners on this through discrimination.

As they would have no right to enforce this.

Already this is happening


The Welsh language commissioner is set to investigate whether any rules had been broken under the Welsh Language Measure 2011, which protects and encourages the use of Welsh.

Syl wrote:

Thorin wrote:


Is that why they apologized to the Welsh workers Syl.

The above is opening the door to discrimination cases and I hope they lose them all.

As private conversations are not a health and safety issue or a problem to the business.

They would get taken to the cleaners on this through discrimination.

As they would have no right to enforce this.

Already this is happening


The Welsh language commissioner is set to investigate whether any rules had been broken under the Welsh Language Measure 2011, which protects and encourages the use of Welsh.

Perhaps its been handled less than politely, ...but it'll be interesting to see what the outcome is.

Personally I still think (even after taking in everyones opposing views) that they were right.

Thorin wrote:

Raggamuffin wrote:In retail, people have to work as a team. I don't mean they're all doing the same thing at the same time, but it's a fast-moving business generally, and everyone needs to understand all the little things which go wrong, or right.

If I'm having a conversation with someone at work, someone generally comes up and joins in, and that's fine with me. If I want a really personal conversation, I'll wait until after work, or go somewhere private.

Raggamuffin wrote:

Original Quill wrote:

That sounds highly socialist, Raggs.  Feelings...it's social theory, at least.  Have you switched sides?

I just understand the importance of work relationships and teams.

Syl wrote:

Raggamuffin wrote:

I just understand the importance of work relationships and teams.

So do I....good relationships amongst staff makes for a good atmosphere, which is more productive and beneficial to everyone concerned.

Raggamuffin wrote:Anyway, the notice didn't mention Welsh, it just said "languages other than English".

Thorin wrote:

Raggamuffin wrote:Anyway, the notice didn't mention Welsh, it just said "languages other than English".

That is twice you cocked up in the last two posts

Syl wrote:

Raggamuffin wrote:

I just understand the importance of work relationships and teams.

So do I....good relationships amongst staff makes for a good atmosphere, which is more productive and beneficial to everyone concerned.

Raggamuffin wrote:

Thorin wrote:




That is twice you cocked up in the last two posts

How?

Where does it mention Welsh in the notice?

Thorin wrote:

Syl wrote:

So do I....good relationships amongst staff makes for a good atmosphere, which is more productive and beneficial to everyone concerned.

So why would there not be a good atmosphere, if sometimes some staff have private conversations?

You keep coming out with such babble Syl.

The only way that there would be a bad atmosphere is people did not get on.

Not that sometimes people had private conversations in English or not.

Even rags showed a double standard by saying she would exclude people by having a private conversation somewhere private at work.

So the point being made by you is a piss poor excuse.

Thorin wrote:

Raggamuffin wrote:

How?

Where does it mention Welsh in the notice?

It was sent to stores in Wales.



You do realise that the Welsh language is not English?

Raggamuffin wrote:

Thorin wrote:


So why would there not be a good atmosphere, if sometimes some staff have private conversations?

You keep coming out with such babble Syl.

The only way that there would be a bad atmosphere is people did not get on.

Not that sometimes people had private conversations in English or not.

Even rags showed a double standard by saying she would exclude people by having a private conversation somewhere private at work.

So the point being made by you is a piss poor excuse.

WTF? I wouldn't be excluding anyone if I was outside of work talking to a work mate with none of the others around. Now I know you're just trolling like the idiot you are.

Raggamuffin wrote:I'll wait until after work, or go somewhere private

Raggamuffin wrote:

Thorin wrote:


It was sent to stores in Wales.



You do realise that the Welsh language is not English?

Are you suggesting that people only speak English or Welsh in Wales, and that nobody from any other country ever goes to work there?

Thorin wrote:

Syl wrote:

So do I....good relationships amongst staff makes for a good atmosphere, which is more productive and beneficial to everyone concerned.

So why would there not be a good atmosphere, if sometimes some staff have private conversations?

You keep coming out with such babble Syl.

The only way that there would be a bad atmosphere is people did not get on.

Not that sometimes people had private conversations in English or not.

Even rags showed a double standard by saying she would exclude people by having a private conversation somewhere private at work.

So the point being made by you is a piss poor excuse.

Thorin wrote:

Raggamuffin wrote:

WTF? I wouldn't be excluding anyone if I was outside of work talking to a work mate with none of the others around. Now I know you're just trolling like the idiot you are.

That is not what you finished with

Raggamuffin wrote:I'll wait until after work, or go somewhere private

So you would speak at work excluding others

Hence the double standard

Syl wrote:

Thorin wrote:


So why would there not be a good atmosphere, if sometimes some staff have private conversations?

You keep coming out with such babble Syl.

The only way that there would be a bad atmosphere is people did not get on.

Not that sometimes people had private conversations in English or not.

Even rags showed a double standard by saying she would exclude people by having a private conversation somewhere private at work.

So the point being made by you is a piss poor excuse.

Obviously some people have complained....else why would the notice have gone up in the first place?
If people are complaining about other workers the atmosphere wont be great will it?

Thorin wrote:

Raggamuffin wrote:

Are you suggesting that people only speak English or Welsh in Wales, and that nobody from any other country ever goes to work there?

Where did I claim any of the above?

Never did.

The memo was sent around the UK and was thus sent to stores in Wales, which would mean they could not speak Welsh and only English.

Thus effecting welsh workers in Wales who spoke liked to speak Welsh

Doh

Raggamuffin wrote:

Thorin wrote:


That is not what you finished with




So you would speak at work excluding others

Hence the double standard

There's no double standard at all. The notice made it clear that it only related to work times. Obviously, if I had an issue at work and needed to speak to the Manager in private, I'd go somewhere private. Are you really that stupid that you don't even understand that?

Thorin wrote:

Raggamuffin wrote:

There's no double standard at all. The notice made it clear that it only related to work times. Obviously, if I had an issue at work and needed to speak to the Manager in private, I'd go somewhere private. Are you really that stupid that you don't even understand that?

You admitted to speaking privately at work, within a private area, thus excluding.

Now you move the goal posts about speaking to a manager, after being caught out

Priceless

Thorin wrote:

Syl wrote:

Obviously some people have complained....else why would the notice have gone up in the first place?
If people are complaining about other workers the atmosphere wont be great will it?

Ahhhhh bless their cotton little socks

I would bet it was down to pure ignorance

Are then those complaining not the problem like I said?

A minority causing all the problems?

Like i say, you bow down to those who take offense, you open the door to a world of shit.

Raggamuffin wrote:

Thorin wrote:

Where did I claim any of the above?

Never did.

The memo was sent around the UK and was thus sent to stores in Wales, which would mean they could not speak Welsh and only English.

Thus effecting welsh workers in Wales who spoke liked to speak Welsh

Doh

They can speak in English though. Why would they want to be rude to their co-employees? It's not discriminating against Welsh-speaking people in particular because they don't allow any language other than English.

Syl wrote:

Thorin wrote:


Ahhhhh bless their cotton little socks

I would bet it was down to pure ignorance

Are then those complaining not the problem like I said?

A minority causing all the problems?

Like i say, you bow down to those who take offense, you open the door to a world of shit.

Why do you presume its a minority?
The vast MAJORITY of people in Wales don't speak Welsh.

Syl wrote:

Thorin wrote:


Ahhhhh bless their cotton little socks

I would bet it was down to pure ignorance

Are then those complaining not the problem like I said?

A minority causing all the problems?

Like i say, you bow down to those who take offense, you open the door to a world of shit.

Why do you presume its a minority?
The vast MAJORITY of people in Wales don't speak Welsh.

Raggamuffin wrote:Clearly, they're talking about people speaking another language on the shop floor or in the stock room, etc - only an idiot would misunderstand that.

Thorin wrote:

Syl wrote:

Why do you presume its a minority?
The vast MAJORITY of people in Wales don't speak Welsh.

Can you show me its a majority that called for this or even if anyone complained?

This was born from ignorance as has been the arguments from yourself, Rags and Horatio, as they are born from intolerance.

Thorin wrote:

Raggamuffin wrote:Clearly, they're talking about people speaking another language on the shop floor or in the stock room, etc - only an idiot would misunderstand that.

So what, if the problem is speaking on the shop floor.

Then why are you not backing banning any private conversations.??

You see your view is one of prejudice do you not, if they are having a private conversation.