Workers at a South Auckland lab could be fired for breaking the rule
A New Zealand employer has banned its workers from speaking anything but English.
Workers at a laboratory in South Auckland have been warned they could be fired if they speak any other language at work, according to a report on Xtra, a New Zealand-based website.
Bevan Singham, a spokesman for the New Zealand’s Human Rights Commission, said the laboratory’s move is not that unusual and reflects the changing nature of New Zealand’s population.
Singham said if a workplace is a high-risk area, it makes sense that only one language is spoken for safety reasons. But employers need to be careful to ensure they aren’t breaking any law with such a language policy.
He said the commission hasn’t received a complaint about this case, but may contact the business in question to clarify the policy and to ensure it doesn’t break any laws.
Workers at a laboratory in South Auckland have been warned they could be fired if they speak any other language at work, according to a report on Xtra, a New Zealand-based website.
Bevan Singham, a spokesman for the New Zealand’s Human Rights Commission, said the laboratory’s move is not that unusual and reflects the changing nature of New Zealand’s population.
Singham said if a workplace is a high-risk area, it makes sense that only one language is spoken for safety reasons. But employers need to be careful to ensure they aren’t breaking any law with such a language policy.
He said the commission hasn’t received a complaint about this case, but may contact the business in question to clarify the policy and to ensure it doesn’t break any laws.
