A suit filed against The Salvation Army has sparked a Senate debate over language in the workplace. The discussion prompted Senate Republicans to seek legislation that prevents the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) from enforcing rules against English-only workplaces:

The EEOC has come under assault from lawmakers such as Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) after the agency filed suit earlier this year against a Salvation Army thrift store in Massachusetts that had fired two employees for speaking Spanish while sorting clothes.

Supporters of the EEOC regulation — which can be waived if there is a legitimate business or safety purpose to require English — say it protects workers from discrimination based on their national origin. The rules have their legal origin in the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

Ay, que civil of them:

“I cannot imagine that the framers of the 1964 Civil Rights Act intended to say that it’s discrimination for a shoe shop owner to say to his or her employee, ‘I want you to be able to speak America’s common language on the job,’ ” Alexander said.

What an interesting tapestry of language and culture we live in! We are reminded of this every time a store employee refers to us as a “pinche gringa flaca,” thinking we don’t speak Spanish. God, people have such a problem when you pay for groceries in pennies. While naked. Open your minds, people!

English-only workplace rules spur debate [LA Times]