Freddom of speech..Does it end in the workplace?
363621
Legally, yes.\n\nFreedom of speech is one of the most misunderstood topics in the U.S. today. You only have "freedom of speech" in the sense that the *government* may not *prevent* you from speaking on the basis of what you *might* say or *intend* to say. It does not prevent the government from punishing you from what you say, if what you say is actionable, and places no restrictions on your employer's ability to regulate in any manner (including prior prevention or interruption) what you say while working. In many cases, your employer may take punitive actions as a result of your speech during non-working time as well.
403182
I am so sorry that your work environment is like this.  It's really hard, but I think the best thing to do is just refuse to listen to it.  You might find some phrases like this helpful when you sense some gossip is coming on.\n\n"Hey, Bill, if it's okay with you I think I'd rather not hear about that."\n"I think well of <name> and I'd like to continue.  Please don't say that story."\n"Hey, we're all coworkers here.  I'd rather not hear anything bad about people I work with."\n\nIt's really hard, and sometimes you can't always tell when the negative comments are coming, but by refusing to listen to it you at least you won't be part of the problem, and you won't have the mental burden of knowing all the negative things about your coworkers.\n\nSometimes these have to be said more than once, and sometimes it helps to change the subject so the people won't  continue on the same line of conversation.\n\nI'm behind you 100%!  You'll be making this world a better place!
1147388
Awesome bra! I totally agrre with ya man! We should also be able drink at our desk in the workplace! Equal Rights for all! \n\nAs if.\n\nI want a comfortable living and if that means dealing with conformity in the workplace? Then just accept it. \n\nIt would make it cooler though. Good question man.
197073
I don't think so. It's an international forum so a lot of people's english isn't that great. It doesn't really bother me too much on here but it makes me crazy when professionals in the workplace don't know how to spell!!
44546
Of course there is! Especially if you get to work with people who share the same values you have.  But it's never going to be 100% happy all the time. There will always be conflict but how it's resolved can make a different between a good workplace or a bad one.
580252
My boss at my last job did, that's why I left. He was verbally abusive towards his employees. He would call them into meetings just to vent, cussing everyone out for NO reason. He would never tell us what we were doing good but that every thing was always bad (which, it wasn't). He would scream, use VERY graphic language (fu.ck, gd...), tell us that we "needed our job because no other place would take us", and so on. He was the biggest prick I have EVER worked for and I've worked for quite a few.
609808
In a legal context, they both face grounds for discipline.  The first for being verbally abusive (i.e. cussing out) and the second for making a race based comment (assuming that the non-English speaker was not white).\n\nOutside of the legal realm, that was just plain poor judgment on both their parts although the one who made the "speak English" comment had it coming.  There is free speech in this country but that doesn't mean that everything you think needs to be said.\n\nOn another level, the United States has no legally defined official language although English is considered the unspoken official language (e.g. the Federal Government uses English for all of its official functions).\n\nHowever, the person who was not speaking English should also take into consideration that speaking in another language in front of someone who doesn't understand can be a very uncomfortable situation for the listener.  At my wife's family parties, most of the aunts and uncles, although they all are fluent in English, speak Spanish.  As a non-Spanish speaker, this makes the parties very uncomfortable for me as there is nothing for me to do and I can't follow anything that is going on.\n\nFinally, if this is a work situation, it is important for everyone to have a common language to facilitate complete understanding for everyone in the workplace.  Work communication can be a critical issue and if not everyone knows what is going that can lead to problems.  If the "speak English" exchange took place during a non-work time (i.e. lunch, break, etc.) then the worker can use any language he or she wished provided that the conversation is still kept at a professional level (e.g. no explicit conversations, etc.).
449402
It is not only rude, but also bad business to have some employees speak a second language at work. Many workplaces have an "English-only" rule. In your case, I believe you have a legitimate complaint. The conversations in another language may actually involve you. If it's a personal conversation that they don't want you to understand, they need to have it on their own time. It has no place in the office. Multiple languages in any workplace is divisive. I think you need to bring this up to management.
83147
Lol I think some of the previous responses are hilarious.  No the employer cannot say anything derogatory against you that would be grounds for a defamatory/slander lawsuit.  Companies are allowed to give your dates of employment, your salary, your position, your current employment status, and how you were termed (which most jobs do not volunteer).  Regarding how you were termed if they decide to divulge this information it can be one of two responses generally: voluntarily left position,  terminated.  They cannot volunteer your "life story" i.e. she bitch slapped a manager then she set the office on fire so we had to can her ass.  That's just not going to happen.
657028
In my opionion - keep your love life out of the office. It can have really ugly repurcussions other wise. Sorry.
401561
Yeah, I'd say don't worry about it, because they're probably not talking about you at all. I speak another language at work with my friend as well as English and we're not bad mouthing anyone.  Well, okay, we might badmouth the establishment, but nobody personally.  Or, go try to learn the language or show interest in it. They'll probably be flattered and then you can be friends!  We're all just people no matter what language we speak.
133604
I don't think it is, but sometimes people get uppity when I say it.  Especially if there's a kid in the room.  It can be bad if said with a certain tone and in a certain situation, but I don't think it is generally bad and people need to relax about it.  There are a lot of awfully worse words and phrases out there to devote your energy to.
643800
in some cases yes it has.  sometimes i have trouble keeping up with what are the new politically correct terms so if i use the pc term that i last knew about, people get angry.  i think if they want to keep changing the pc terms they need to send out a memo
444225
that depends entirely on the setting (are you at work and a collegue said something off-color?), the person (you can't respond the same way to your boss as you can to a peer), and exactly what was said/done (i.e. was it a minor slip or something that you possibly took the wrong way, or was it a major, totally out-of-line thing)???\n\ndepending on the level, who/what was involved, etc, anything from turning the other cheek & ignoring the person (while calling them some choice words in your inner monologue!) to a swift kick in the nuts might be in order. typically I abhore sue-happy people, but if it's a case of a superior at work sexually harrassing you or making unwanted racial or sexual comments, etc, then legal recourse may be a possible route...
199962
I believe any language in the workplace (whether it is directed at you or not,) that is racist, sexual, or demeaning is a form of harassment, and can be reported to a supervisor.
702559
No, it is not appropriate.  Absolutely, it should be left out of the workplace.
376785
Surely, that depends upon what *fmal* is.  \n("Don't call me Shirley.")\nAnd whether or not it's in your job description.