Dave Stewart
2013-06-18 02:46:01 UTC
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. Facing threats of national boycotts from Latino groups
and a slew of online petitions, Whole Foods announced Friday that the
organic grocery chain has revised its employee language policy following
the suspension of two Spanish-speaking Albuquerque employees.
Whole Foods Market Inc. Co-CEO Walter Robb said in a blog post Friday that
the recent unfortunate incident in Albuquerque prompted the Austin,
Texas-based company to revise a policy that does not reflect and is not
in alignment with the spirit of this company.
First, we sincerely apologize that a section of our handbook regarding
Team Member interactions in the workplace was not clearly written, and for
any misunderstandings or offense it has created, Robb wrote. Its
intention was to foster inclusion, not exclusion.
Last week, two Albuquerque workers said they were suspended for a day with
pay after complaining about the policy. A Whole Foods spokesman said that
previous policy required that all English-speaking workers must speak
English to customers and other employees while on the clock, unless the
customer speaks another language.
The suspensions and the news of policy sparked outrage and threats of
boycotts from groups like the New Mexico League of United Latin American
Citizen.
New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez, a Republican and the nations only Latina
governor, pressed the company to review its employee language policy for
states like New Mexico, where Spanish is historically linked.
Robb said the employees received paid, one-day suspensions for their
workplace behavior, not for speaking Spanish.
Under the new policy released Friday, employees who speak English and need
to communicate with an English-speaking customer are asked to please
speak with them in English, unless requested otherwise by the customer.
The policy also asks employees to make sure you are sensitive to others
who may want to join your conversation or ask you a question. If needed,
switch to a common language to be inclusive and respectful when speaking
other languages on the job.
Employees who dont understand English are asked to tell a manager who
will help with translation, the policy said.
Walter said the company has sent the original and revised policy to the
New Mexico LULAC and the American Civil Liberties Union for their
feedback. He said Whole Foods will continue to have conversations with
these organizations.
Ralph Arellanes, state director of New Mexico LULAC, said the new policy
was a step in the right direction and was looking forward to speaking
further with company officials during a scheduled meeting next month.
Usually when something like this is uncovered there are other issues
beneath the surface that need to be addressed, like the demographic of
employees and management structures, Arellanes said. New Mexico isnt a
foreign country but (Hispanics) have a history here that goes back 400
years.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/whole-foods-revises-employee-
language-policy-after-unfortunate-incident-with-nm-
employees/2013/06/14/c6dc7518-d542-11e2-b3a2-
3bf5eb37b9d0_singlePage.html?tid=obnetwork
and a slew of online petitions, Whole Foods announced Friday that the
organic grocery chain has revised its employee language policy following
the suspension of two Spanish-speaking Albuquerque employees.
Whole Foods Market Inc. Co-CEO Walter Robb said in a blog post Friday that
the recent unfortunate incident in Albuquerque prompted the Austin,
Texas-based company to revise a policy that does not reflect and is not
in alignment with the spirit of this company.
First, we sincerely apologize that a section of our handbook regarding
Team Member interactions in the workplace was not clearly written, and for
any misunderstandings or offense it has created, Robb wrote. Its
intention was to foster inclusion, not exclusion.
Last week, two Albuquerque workers said they were suspended for a day with
pay after complaining about the policy. A Whole Foods spokesman said that
previous policy required that all English-speaking workers must speak
English to customers and other employees while on the clock, unless the
customer speaks another language.
The suspensions and the news of policy sparked outrage and threats of
boycotts from groups like the New Mexico League of United Latin American
Citizen.
New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez, a Republican and the nations only Latina
governor, pressed the company to review its employee language policy for
states like New Mexico, where Spanish is historically linked.
Robb said the employees received paid, one-day suspensions for their
workplace behavior, not for speaking Spanish.
Under the new policy released Friday, employees who speak English and need
to communicate with an English-speaking customer are asked to please
speak with them in English, unless requested otherwise by the customer.
The policy also asks employees to make sure you are sensitive to others
who may want to join your conversation or ask you a question. If needed,
switch to a common language to be inclusive and respectful when speaking
other languages on the job.
Employees who dont understand English are asked to tell a manager who
will help with translation, the policy said.
Walter said the company has sent the original and revised policy to the
New Mexico LULAC and the American Civil Liberties Union for their
feedback. He said Whole Foods will continue to have conversations with
these organizations.
Ralph Arellanes, state director of New Mexico LULAC, said the new policy
was a step in the right direction and was looking forward to speaking
further with company officials during a scheduled meeting next month.
Usually when something like this is uncovered there are other issues
beneath the surface that need to be addressed, like the demographic of
employees and management structures, Arellanes said. New Mexico isnt a
foreign country but (Hispanics) have a history here that goes back 400
years.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/whole-foods-revises-employee-
language-policy-after-unfortunate-incident-with-nm-
employees/2013/06/14/c6dc7518-d542-11e2-b3a2-
3bf5eb37b9d0_singlePage.html?tid=obnetwork