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Language problems
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I've got a new job, all good except that the person I work with insists on speaking to the bosses on the phone and in person, even in meetings, in their non-european language.
This inhibits communication in the office and is making it really hard for me to learn the job.
I feel it's rude, disrespectful and isolates me as the only white British person in the office. I'm more than happy to work for them, I'm not racist but really, does everybody else feel, as I do, that it would be easier if we all spoke English? After all, we are in England!
Or am I being over sensitive? |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"I've got a new job, all good except that the person I work with insists on speaking to the bosses on the phone and in person, even in meetings, in their non-european language.
This inhibits communication in the office and is making it really hard for me to learn the job.
I feel it's rude, disrespectful and isolates me as the only white British person in the office. I'm more than happy to work for them, I'm not racist but really, does everybody else feel, as I do, that it would be easier if we all spoke English? After all, we are in England!
Or am I being over sensitive?"
Not at all - fairly sure it breaks a load of legislation too but there are HR bods inhere who are better placed to comment on that.
Personally - I'd make it difficult in return - use a different language again, not answer unless english used, etc.
Sounds petty but what they are doing is worse. |
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"I've got a new job, all good except that the person I work with insists on speaking to the bosses on the phone and in person, even in meetings, in their non-european language.
This inhibits communication in the office and is making it really hard for me to learn the job.
I feel it's rude, disrespectful and isolates me as the only white British person in the office. I'm more than happy to work for them, I'm not racist but really, does everybody else feel, as I do, that it would be easier if we all spoke English? After all, we are in England!
Or am I being over sensitive?"
Not very fair if you are the only one who can't understand what they're saying! I've worked places with people who do this, and felt really paranoid not knowing want was being spoken about!
Can you not ask them to speak English around you? |
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"I've got a new job, all good except that the person I work with insists on speaking to the bosses on the phone and in person, even in meetings, in their non-european language.
This inhibits communication in the office and is making it really hard for me to learn the job.
I feel it's rude, disrespectful and isolates me as the only white British person in the office. I'm more than happy to work for them, I'm not racist but really, does everybody else feel, as I do, that it would be easier if we all spoke English? After all, we are in England!
Or am I being over sensitive?
Not very fair if you are the only one who can't understand what they're saying! I've worked places with people who do this, and felt really paranoid not knowing want was being spoken about!
Can you not ask them to speak English around you?"
That's exactly how I feel. |
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The other woman in the office has been there 14 years, me six weeks. I'm qualified, experienced in the particular thing I was employed to do; she isn't but she changes everything I try to do. I really resent her taking all the forms or of the ring binder I put them in and piling them in the desk, minus the punched pockets. It's like subterfuge.
I also started keeping attendance lists in date order, as there are comments on them relevant to what I have to do. In fact, I can't do my job without them. She takes them off the front and hides them before I can get to them.
Then I look like I'm not doing my job properly. She's a bully! They just say "oh we've had her 14 years, there's nothing we can do!"
No wonder their secretaries only last 6 months on average! |
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It would drive me nuts and id look for another job, if they refused to alter their language habits.
It's poor management to have a new employee alienated and not learning from hearing stuff.
The other woman sounds like someone to tackle separately.
Good luck, I feel for you there. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"The other woman in the office has been there 14 years, me six weeks. I'm qualified, experienced in the particular thing I was employed to do; she isn't but she changes everything I try to do. I really resent her taking all the forms or of the ring binder I put them in and piling them in the desk, minus the punched pockets. It's like subterfuge.
I also started keeping attendance lists in date order, as there are comments on them relevant to what I have to do. In fact, I can't do my job without them. She takes them off the front and hides them before I can get to them.
Then I look like I'm not doing my job properly. She's a bully! They just say "oh we've had her 14 years, there's nothing we can do!"
No wonder their secretaries only last 6 months on average!"
I think you should look for another job. Yes its giving up but if you stay you have nothing but trouble in front of you. The more you invest the harder it is to let go. Sometimes some jobs are just not for us. Leave now while its easy. Good luck. |
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I was thinking of asking the boss to come and meet me after she's left the office. I'm sure they've got no idea it's going on.
I will be looking for another job and I'll have words with her on Monday about her meddling and the use of Hindi. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"I've got a new job, all good except that the person I work with insists on speaking to the bosses on the phone and in person, even in meetings, in their non-european language.
This inhibits communication in the office and is making it really hard for me to learn the job.
I feel it's rude, disrespectful and isolates me as the only white British person in the office. I'm more than happy to work for them, I'm not racist but really, does everybody else feel, as I do, that it would be easier if we all spoke English? After all, we are in England!
Or am I being over sensitive?"
C'est la vie madame |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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You could show willing and take the brilliant opportunity to learn a new language?
I've worked in environments where primarily Welsh was spoken and another where Chinese was the language of choice. They were fantastic opportunities.
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Why not try and learn their language, something else to put on ya C.V.  "
Why should we adapt to foreign language's in our own country? I worked in Greece when younger and learnt the Greek language, as I was in there country and thought it polite to do so.
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Why not try and learn their language, something else to put on ya C.V.
Why should we adapt to foreign language's in our own country? I worked in Greece when younger and learnt the Greek language, as I was in there country and thought it polite to do so.
"
Because it's exciting and challenging to learns new language? |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"I'm assuming the employer speaks English and Hindi, so it's an informed choice by him to speak in a language that his staff can't understand.....
"
And an informed choice of people coming to work there? |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"I'm assuming the employer speaks English and Hindi, so it's an informed choice by him to speak in a language that his staff can't understand.....
And an informed choice of people coming to work there?"
Personally I would love the chance to learn any language from native speakers. But I know that's not what many people would want. |
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"I'm assuming the employer speaks English and Hindi, so it's an informed choice by him to speak in a language that his staff can't understand.....
And an informed choice of people coming to work there?"
Perhaps they didn't state in the advert 'must speak hindi to work here'
It is excluding people in his employment. If it was the other way round I bet he wouldn't like it. Yes she could get another job bit in today's climate that's not always that easy. Why should she be made to feel uncomfortable in her place of work? |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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In the multi national company that I work for, all and meetings and correspondence must be in English.
I've been in meetings in canada where people start talking in French. The chairman said there are non French speakers in the room and therefore please use English.
And yes you can get very paranoid |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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I work with a few Indians that speak gujarati (this is Hindi language). I can understand what they are saying as I learnt Urdu, which is almost the same.
Everytime they started a conversation in gujarati I would just say English please and care on what I was doing. Done that for a few weeks and they started to calm down and would talk in English. Still do talk in gujarati but not as much.
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"I've got a new job, all good except that the person I work with insists on speaking to the bosses on the phone and in person, even in meetings, in their non-european language.
This inhibits communication in the office and is making it really hard for me to learn the job.
I feel it's rude, disrespectful and isolates me as the only white British person in the office. I'm more than happy to work for them, I'm not racist but really, does everybody else feel, as I do, that it would be easier if we all spoke English? After all, we are in England!
Or am I being over sensitive?"
I'm not so sure they should give up their native tongue for one individual.
If what they were saying involved you then they should speak in English.
If they want their business to boom FROM and IN England it may be policy to speak English.
Are their clients English speaking ?
What kind of business is it ?
I'm surprised at the notion that 'Hindi' isn't a valuable language for you to learn.
a) India is developing it's world business far in excess of Britain and is serious competition for China.
b) You'd be able to understand your bosses and co workers had you learned it in the past or took it up now.
All the Britain for the British comments on this thread have no idea what being british today ( look at that word ) TODAY is.
It's not a great big white man keeping you in a job. |
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By *uzzy NavelWoman
over a year ago
so near and yet so far.... |
My experience is in China, they all want to learn English, but we also have translators to help so business flows more smoothly....
Investigate the price of learning Hindu/Urdu and the cost of a translator and present it to your boss?  |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"
All the Britain for the British comments on this thread have no idea what being british today ( look at that word ) TODAY is."
That maybe because it's been given away and diluted down in this wonderful multi cultural experiment  |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Peraonalky I think they should be considerate when they are around you so you understand what they are saying. They could be saying anything about you. you ccould be the victim to work place bullying and not even know |
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Yes, it's an opportunity to learn a new language but she shouldn't HAVE to.
I once worked with people who insisted on speaking Turkish around me. So I learned some Turkish, thinking I would feel more included (they didn't know this). - Only then did I discover through listening to them that they didn't like me and did it purposefully to exclude me (and trust me, I heard some vile comments!).
Hence, they stopped talking around me altogether and an investigation into workplace bullying was opened.
Maybe ask them outright to speak English around you as it is hindering your ability to learn about happenings in the company and feel included in the workforce? If they refuse than maybe you could get a rough idea as to whether it's being done purposefully, or speak to your boss about helping towards the cost so you can learn Hindu... |
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I think it's abot much to ask to learn a new language as well as a new job, maybe explain to your manager how you feel and see where it gets you before you jump ship, although if you say their staff don't last more than 6 months then I fear nothing will change! |
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