Empowering advocacy

What can you/should you do if...

...you are told not to use your HL in public?

In theory, you have the right to use your HL anywhere you want. In practice, however, it is not as obvious and clear-cut. Your employer, for example, by law cannot tell you not to use your HL while at work unless it interferes with your job. If the business has a clear cut policy of English-only, they are required to inform you of the policy and consequences if the policy is not followed.

Your language rights

"If an employer with a business necessity adopts an English-only rule to be applied at certain times, the employer must inform its affected employees of the general circumstances when speaking only in English is required and of the consequences of violating the rule, as detailed in 29 C.F.R. § 1606.7(c).

As with all workplace policies, an English-only rule must be adopted for nondiscriminatory reasons only. For example: An English-only rule would be unlawful if it were adopted with the intent to discriminate on the basis of national origin. Likewise, a policy prohibiting some, but not all, of the foreign languages spoken in a workplace, such as a no-Spanish rule, would be unlawful."

Department of Labor

However, given the volatile nature of immigration crackdowns and profiling based, among other things, on the language an individual is using, you should keep in mind that not all laws are observed as they were intended.

Know your Rights

More resources about bilingualism

Language Access Cards and Handouts

Unaccompanied minors - resources

Translation and Interpretation Services

When to seek professional opinion

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