In looking for a job my nephew sent me this from an employment ad to which he was about to apply but didn't out of self-disqualification: "HS diploma/GED and bilingual required. Customer service experience (preferably in retail) and excellent communication skills will ensure your success with xxxxxxxx." It seems to me that requiring this discriminates against monolinguistic citizens. Although I applaud all those who can speak more than one language, IMO this places an unfair disadvantage on large segments of the population. Although this ad undoubtedly seeks Spanish-speaking persons as bilingual, I do wonder what they would do if a person put down Inuit, Farsi, Greek, etc. as a foreign language. Where is the ACLU when you need 'em? Anyway, that is my Friday afternoon quandry / reflection. Thoughts?
Not an ACLU issue, as they only deal with illegal discrimination. According to the various federal laws on the books, these are the protected classes that cannot be discriminated against lawfully: -Race -Color -Religion -Sex -National Origin -Age -Disability or handicap Furthermore, the courts have allowed that companies can discriminate on any other issue not mentioned above as long as the reason for discrimination is related to a "bona-fide job qualification." So if this company deals with customers/clients who speak a different language (probably Spanish), then they're perfectly justified to require the person handling the customers/clients to be fluent in Spanish as well. So no, this is not an ACLU issue. However, I agree that they should be more specific in what the 2nd language should be, and it would be pretty funny if they get a bunch of candidates whose second languages are more obscure than Spanish.
Nah. The ability to speak more than language is a skill. Just like computer programming, html, fast typing, etc. If they deal with a consistent bilingual customer base, I would think it their right to ask for it. Even if it didn't SAY it was required in the ad, you can bet that they aren't going to hire someone who isn't bilingual. So in essence they are keeping people who they know are not going to get hired from wasting their time.
Agree with others here, thumbs. Asking for someone to speak multiple languages (refer to most international finance jobs) is no different from asking that someone know how to type, or to solve differential equations, or hit 3-pointers with regularity.* * = a basketball-related comment! Yesh!
The EEOC wouldn't touch this either since it seeems that being billingual is a bona fide occupational qualification which allows the employer to differentiate between candidates when it comes to language skills.
Thumbs, it's a skill, as others have said, like computer programming and the like. It's similar to hiring a bank teller for a branch in Chinatown, and requiring that they speak Chinese, as well as English. Doesn't seem unreasonable to me. If it makes you feel any better, I wouldn't qualify for the job, either. My Spanish is lousy! D&D. Las Manitas is Good!
I think i'm calling the ACLU on two recent issues of my own. 1.) I'm not 7'2 and can't dunk the ball and have only mediocre athleticism. 2.) They won't hire me as the CEO of a Fortune 500 company. They said I need more experience and skills. Bah!!!!!!!!!
I think a better question is why can't the richest, best-educated country in the world teach more than half of it's kids a foreign language (myself included)?
That's an excellent question. I once had a Dutch girlfriend who not only spoke 5 languages, but spoke better English than I did! She had a beautiful English accent. Didn't hurt that she was beautiful herself, but I digress. D&D. The Past can be Beautiful.
