Being Bilingual in Spanish a discrimination against job seekers
Public Comments (2,313)
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Mar 27th, 2015Someone from Long Beach, CA writes:
This is an issue that needs to be tackled immediately. It is unfair and unlawful to require us to be bilingual and Spanish speaking to get a job on AMERICAN soil. How many of our tax dollars have gone to creating a more comfortable and convenient home for the immigrants? Is it right that we lose our means of survival as well? I am a mother and I got my first job at 15 years old and worked all the way until I had my daughter. I took a break for a year to stay home and care for my child and despite my experience I am now repeatedly denied jobs because I do not speak Spanish. I was born on American soil, and though my parents came from another country they worked to learn the ins and outs of this country. They made it their duty to learn English so they could properly communicate with Americans and step up to the plate of citizenship. Fine, our country can be a melting pot of different cultures - "land of the free." But why should I be shackled by the languages of immigrants who came to MY land to share MY home with me? -
Mar 27th, 2015Someone from Laguna Hills, CA signed.
Mar 27th, 2015Someone from Las Vegas, NV writes:
I am a female, college graduate and United States citizen who has been and continues to be discriminated against due to the fact I am not bilingual in America. I have been unable to find a job for 7 months. THIS NEEDS TO STOP!REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelMar 26th, 2015Someone from Deerfield Beach, FL writes:
I am an American born and raised and I should not be required to speak any other language but English to get employed.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelMar 25th, 2015Someone from Van Nuys, CA signed.
Mar 24th, 2015Someone from Houston, TX signed.
Mar 24th, 2015Someone from Las Vegas, NV writes:
I have been in the medical field for over 14 years now and never have I had a problem getting a job till a few years ago for not being able to speak spanish. I have nothing against the Spanish race but I do have something against not being able to take care of myself just because I am not bilingual but I have worked all my life.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelMar 24th, 2015Someone from Hollywood, FL signed.
Mar 23rd, 2015Someone from Jamaica, NY writes:
I am so, so, very, very happy to see this petition and I hope it is taking seriously by our politicians because this problem will affect all American workers who speak English only. This discrimination affects us all; men, women, young, old, White, Black etc. This is America, why are we being turned down for jobs because we don't speak Spanish or any other language immigrants who are here, some illegal, speaks. I did what I was suppose to do, I got a B.A. and then a M.A. degree but I can't find a job in NYC because I'm not bilingual. I have a huge amount of student loans to repay yet I can't find a job. By the way I have years of experience in the field I'm seeking now as a person who has a Master's. This problem is on a level that must be addressed by our Government immediately. This is not what the American Dream was suppose to be about.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelMar 20th, 2015Someone from Long Beach, CA writes:
The problem is: not everyone is being ask to speak dual language only those at the bottom or near it (the middle). People in IT, police, government agents, politicians, CEO's, CFO's, doctors or any high ranking person if the hiring position. What we at the bottom should do it put on the ballet that all potential employees big and little should be bilingual. It shouldn't be that only the poor or nearly there should have to fight for the scraps. If the politician are not concern about their voter then their voter should be concern for them. Let's put bilingual for all on the ballet and let's how fast the boys in government start to act.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelMar 20th, 2015Someone from Bronx, NY signed.
Mar 20th, 2015Someone from Edison, NJ writes:
Looking for work since November 2015. Was layed off from an oil company but running into bilingual only jobs. I am 51 years old and speak English only. I agree with other posters... The president isn't bilingual!!! This is America! Learn English. Why am I being denied jobs because I speak English?REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelMar 18th, 2015Someone from Mount Pleasant, TX writes:
I have recently experienced a lay-off from my job due to no fault of my own. Unfortunately it has put me back in to the job market with 2 years prior to retirement age. Since mid-February 2015 I have now been refused a total of 3 positions I am perfectly qualified for I possess the required medical certifications to perform the positions duties. However I was denied the position because I lacked the ability to communicate bilingual. Let it be made perfectly clear, by bilingual the employers do not specify they expect me to learn proper Spanish; they are requiring me to speak a slang version of Mexican. It?s my personal opinion this is discrimination and I never expected a requirement to learn a foreign non-descript language in the Country of The United States of America. THIS IS DECRIMINATION at its best. I have called my Senators and Congressmen to file a formal complaint. I encourage others to do the same and continue to apply for positions in spite of the employers requirements for bilingual applicants as they will be forced to require their clinical to learn English rather than cater to an uneducated public who blatantly parade their defiance and laziness demanding AMERICA create a new culture on their behalf.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelMar 18th, 2015Someone from Orlando, FL writes:
I am in agreement with I'd say the majority of posters here. It was not required to know Spanish at my job, and I am thankful of that. My mother is an immigrant, and she was more then happy to learn the law of the land, so to speak. This is definitely a serious problem in our country that has to be rectified.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelMar 17th, 2015Someone from Northampton, PA writes:
It is wrong for jobs to REQUIRE a person to be bilingual. It means that the person has to be Spanish without saying so. No American who had 4 years of college Spanish will say they are bilingual because they aren't. The only way to be truly bilingual is to grow up that way or learn it from family. If this is the direction we are going in, then in ten years every social service job will require all employees to be bilingual, because unfortunately, a majority of those who need social services are Spanish speaking. Already HALF of these jobs require it. It is also spreading out from Social Service jobs. Now the medical field is starting to require people to be bilingual. Next it will banks and police. We should not be forced to learn Spanish or any other language in order to work. If people want to come here and live then let them learn English or not, but don't start forcing us who live here to start speaking these languages. MANY people come here, go to college and learn our language and are fine. Why force those people to learn yet ANOTHER language that's not even our main language! It's getting out of hand.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelMar 17th, 2015Someone from Elgin, IL writes:
Maybe they should have made it REQUIRED that I learn Spanish in high school, so that once I was done I wasn't just thrown to the wolves, with no chance of getting a job being a mere English speaker. Not to mention I'm going to school for elementary education, I guarantee you when I get my bachelor's they'll laugh in my face because I'm an English only teacher. So tired of this.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelMar 14th, 2015Someone from Miami, FL writes:
It isn't fair to have to be bilingual if the president of the united states doesn't speak Spanish why should any american have to. Why can't employers just learn English. Its discrimination, and its not fair!REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelMar 13th, 2015Someone from New York, NY signed.
Mar 13th, 2015Someone from Bronx, NY signed.
Mar 13th, 2015Someone from Nanuet, NY signed.
Mar 13th, 2015Someone from Bronx, NY writes:
This is America I should only be obligated to speak englishREPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelMar 13th, 2015Someone from Bronx, NY signed.
Mar 13th, 2015Someone from South Gate, CA signed.
Mar 12th, 2015Someone from Anaheim, CA writes:
I don't think I should be turned down for a job, because I don't know Spanish or Vietnamese, I worked really hard in dental assisting school to graduate with high honors!!! Then be turned down because I'm not bilingual in Spanish or any other language other then English!REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelMar 11th, 2015Someone from Lehigh Acres, FL signed.
Mar 10th, 2015Someone from Delano, CA signed.
Mar 10th, 2015Someone from Greentown, IN signed.
Mar 10th, 2015Someone from Liberty, TX writes:
I have been turned down for jobs that I am qualified for but because I don't speak Spanish I didn't get hired. This is so wrong. This is America these people that come here from other countries need to speak EnglishREPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelMar 10th, 2015Someone from Rancho Palos Verdes, CA writes:
I'm a talented seamstress. I've been sewing since I was a child, but I'm unable to find any sort of tailoring job because I can't speak Spanish. Why is Spanish a requirement for sewing?!REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelMar 10th, 2015Someone from Rancho Palos Verdes, CA writes:
I'm a talented seamstress. I've been sewing since I was a child, but I'm unable to find any sort of tailoring job because I can't speak Spanish. Why is Spanish a requirement for sewing?!REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelMar 10th, 2015Someone from Pacoima, CA writes:
My ex could not get a construction superintendent job because hes not bilingual..my friends cannot get jobs either...sadREPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelMar 9th, 2015Someone from Clifton, NJ writes:
I cannot get a job in the medical or dental field because I cannot speak spanish. Most of these so-called qualified job candidates cannot speak proper English !!! How is that considered bilingual? How are they more qualified than me? ? Every other ethnicity has to learn English. It's unfair.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelMar 9th, 2015Someone from Miami, FL writes:
I can't get a job because I don't speak Spanish well. My spouse came here from Guatemala & even they can't understand why I need to learn Spanish to get a job in Miami, FL. There are tons of places in Miami where I can't communicate with employees because they don't speak ENGLISH! How is this not discrimination? Go to any job on Craiglist, Monster, Indeed, etc. they ALL require Spanish. It's ridiculous.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelMar 9th, 2015Someone from Tampa, FL writes:
This is a "get out of jail free" card for employers to discriminate on skilled workers. It's hard enough finding ANY job without fear of being laid off. That's why the only people that say the economy isgetting better it's politicians (the ONLY people that actually have job security). Employers favor bilingual workers so they can get a 2 for 1 package deal, same reason why they outsource to other countries. They even want to make it easier for Mexicans to obtain US citizenship while people that been here for years still have to pay the full fee. I hope this petition & my words strike reality in the heads of the people that claim they support us.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelFeb 19th, 2015Someone from Woodland, CA writes:
It is absolutely unfair to require US citizens to speak Spanish in order to be hired in a position you are otherwise fully qualified for in the US.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelFeb 18th, 2015Someone from El Paso, TX writes:
I moved to El Paso, Texas to live with family two years ago. I have been looking for employment ever since. I truly feel that I am being discriminated against because I do not speak Spanish. It is very unfair and wrong. Is El Paso Mexico now? I cannot move anywhere else because I am literally broke!!!! I am trying to have faith that something will come up, but everywhere I go, people are talking Spanish. I am sorry, I really feel that if El Paso is an American city, people need to learn English and employers need to stop discriminate against people who are not bilingual. Why does it have to be so complicated to find work in El Paso??? I am 'hungry' for employment. If I have to work $8 an hour, I will because I have bills to pay where I cannot afford lawyer fees for bankruptcy.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelFeb 18th, 2015Someone from Houston, TX writes:
It's considered (by a supreme court ruling) illegal to force spanish speakers to speak English at work yet it's a-okay for companies to require English only speakers to speak Spanish in order to be hired. Does nobody else see the hypocrisy in this? We may not have an "official" language in the US but we were founded by english speaking "white" aka non hispanic caucasians and our constitution (you know, the law of the land) is written in english therefore we are an english speaking nation. This hispandering needs to stop. Melting pot never meant that everyone who comes here retains their native language and culture. Until 25 years ago all immigrants melted into US culture which was that of English speaking non hispanics. Since that stopped happening this country has fallen off a cliff.REPORT COMMENTS
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