English-only policy "a disgrace"

**Mully** · 3rd April 2009, 13:37

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/2313...icy-a-disgrace

Must say I don't think it's a problem. I find it incredibly rude when the person who is meant to be serving you is having a conversation with someone else, in any language.

Interestingly, it's been blamed on a Junior Manager who should have "worded it differently" - is that the Manager agreeing with the sentiment?

**ElCoyote** · 3rd April 2009, 14:10

Originally Posted by Mully

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/2313...icy-a-disgrace

Must say I don't think it's a problem. I find it incredibly rude when the person who is meant to be serving you is having a conversation with someone else, in any language.

Interestingly, it's been blamed on a Junior Manager who should have "worded it differently" - is that the Manager agreeing with the sentiment?

When in Rome etc.......................etc. Yes it is rude, pity they didn't have the balls to keep the sign.

**Hitcher** · 3rd April 2009, 14:12

It's a media beat-up. It's not as though any laws have been broken or that somebody has lost an eye.

Move along folks, there's nothing to see here.

**Mully** · 3rd April 2009, 19:52

Originally Posted by Hitcher

It's a media beat-up.

In New Zillund?? Surely, you can't be serious??

**mujambee** · 3rd April 2009, 21:16

Originally Posted by ElCoyote

When in Rome etc.......................etc. Yes it is rude, pity they didn't have the balls to keep the sign.

So if me and my wife are shopping there and talk to each other in whatever language we may like, that is rude? To whom?

**Hitcher** · 3rd April 2009, 21:21

Originally Posted by mujambee

So if me and my wife are shopping there and talk to each other in whatever language we may like, that is rude? To whom?

Only rude if you are working there, rather than shopping there. I doubt that many New World supermarket employees habla espanol.

**mujambee** · 3rd April 2009, 21:25

Originally Posted by Hitcher

Only rude if you are working there, rather than shopping there. I doubt that many New World supermarket employees habla espanol.

So the sign is only for employees? I understood it was for people shopping there.

There's no Maori Language rights or something like that in effect there? Here it is madness with basque, catalonian, galician and don't know how many more.

**Mully** · 3rd April 2009, 21:29

Originally Posted by mujambee

So if me and my wife are shopping there and talk to each other in whatever language we may like, that is rude? To whom?

No, if you were the cashier and your wife was another cashier and you were having a private conversation (in Spanish) while you were meant to be serving an English speaking customer, that would be rude.

Actually, if you were having any conversation, with anyone, in any language, while you were meant to be serving, that would be rude.

He's dropped the ball by saying foreign language - he should have just said no private conversations while serving.

**Mully** · 3rd April 2009, 21:31

Originally Posted by mujambee

So the sign is only for employees? I understood it was for people shopping there.

Nope, employees only

Thorndon New World was yesterday revealed to have told employees they could receive warnings for speaking foreign languages on the job

**mujambee** · 3rd April 2009, 21:36

Originally Posted by Mully

No, if you were the cashier and your wife was another cashier and you were having a private conversation (in Spanish) while you were meant to be serving an English speaking customer, that would be rude.

Actually, if you were having any conversation, with anyone, in any language, while you were meant to be serving, that would be rude.

He's dropped the ball by saying foreign language - he should have just said no private conversations while serving.

Few days ago I was shopping here, and a Romanian cashier was teaching another Romanian cashier, who in turn was serving us. They were talking their own language among them, and talking spanish to me. Didn't find it rude.

**Mully** · 3rd April 2009, 21:40

Originally Posted by mujambee

Few days ago I was shopping here, and a Romanian cashier was teaching another Romanian cashier. They were talking their own language among them, and talking spanish to me. Didn't find it rude.

Slightly different situation if one was teaching the other.

If one was serving you, and talking to her friend at the same time, that's pretty rude. That's generally a faux pas for Customer Services.