am i being unreasonable? or just a b!tch?

i work with some spanish-speaking clients who do not speak english well.

i send all of my clients letters to schedule their appointments. if i am aware in advance that someone is spanish-speaking, in their letter i include a line IN SPANISH that says "if you need a translator you are required to bring one with you." i do not speak spanish and we are not equipped with translators.

so far NONE of my clients that needs a translator has brought one. and i cannot do an adequate interview without one!!

so really, am i asking too much? i don't care who they bring, a relative, a friend, someone they hire, whatever!

Re: am i being unreasonable? or just a b!tch?

I don't think you are being unreasonable. This is something we are running into a lot with our agency in wanting to open up some new programs. We are being told by the state administrators this is "the cost of doing business". It really has not gone over well with a lot of the higher ups because they feel that it's the U.S. and we shouldn't be bending over backwards so much for people when English is the primary language here. I can see it from both sides though. It is frustrating to hear though "WE are violating someone's civil rights" when we bend over backwards to try to get them someone who speaks their language (This often is a difficult resource to find). I also work with people who do speak perfect English and a lot of times it's a behavioral issue why they are requesting a translator when they know what their staff are saying just fine.

Re: am i being unreasonable? or just a b!tch?

I interview people all the time and I have had interviews where they will come in and BARELY understand me...I tell them that being able to communicate with their coworkers is a requirement of the job (it's in the job description) and therefore if they cannot communicate, then they cannot be considered for employment. I feel bad sometimes but it is what it is.

Re: am i being unreasonable? or just a b!tch?

I dont think it's unreasonable at all, it is (or should be) common sense! (to them!)

my parents came to the US not speaking a word of English. my mom always brought someone with her who could translate, anytime she had to go to a government office, (SS, etc.)

Ive worked with and come across MANY Spanish speakers, who are ambitious, determined and will do whatever it takes to communicate and get to where they need to, to get a job. and at the job, they learned all the terms and methods, anything needed to perform that job to the BEST of their abilities. and many of them worked triple as hard as their American coworkers because they wanted to rise above the language barrier, I truly admired them and their work ethic, and told them very often.

my motto is "where there's a will, there's a way".
my mom still has trouble communicating in English, but she makes every effort she possibly can.

is it possible for someone to tell them over the phone ? (I can help you with a few sentences that you can memorize )

on the contrary, there are those that like to hide behind the language barrier.

just last week, I was at a takeout place, and asked for the bathroom (my toddler had to go ASAP) and one lady didnt even say a word, she just shrugged me away as if to say "I dont understand English" (I know that look by now),well I asked her in spanish, and not for nothing, bathroom is the easiest thing to learn when you WORK at a takeout place!
winds up, (she said in Spanish) she had just cleaned the bathroom and didnt want anyone in it to mess it up again
needless to say, her taking advantage of the language barrier was completely inappropriate and we were completely entitled to use the bathroom (Yes we purchased food their too )
that annoyed me to no end ! just the fact that a child had to go in emergency, and she had the nerve to act like she didnt understand me (And then told me in spanish that it was closed!) (and it was roped off !) of course my son did use the bathroom, but I was completely baffled by her.
2 of her coworkers were wonderful about it and resolved it right away.


sorry for the tangent.

Message edited 5/17/2009 8:15:15 PM.

Re: am i being unreasonable? or just a b!tch?

I think there is a translator service you can use on the phone... at geico we use to call into it, and it worked pretty well.