Is it legal or illegal to be turned down for a job in America because you don't speak a foreign language?

Question

Today I answered an ad for a cook. The ad just said "help wanted". So I went in, took, my resume. The owner read it, loved it and was about to hire me until he asked if I spoke Spanish. I do not. Once this was known to him, he wasn't interested. He said his cook could not speak English at all and this would be a problem. I said I speak a little Spanish, but he didn't seem to budge.

Is this right? I don't really know.....

Answer 1

Its legal if its a job requirement, also a bilingual person is more likely to get the job anyway.

Answer 2

I am Mexicano, and I dunno speak Englich, I do not need it. Spanisch is enough for me, I live in San Jose , California.

I said San Jose!!! not Saint Joseph!

saludos!

Answer 3

I believe it's legal.  & sometimes that can be relevant to the job.

Answer 4

Obama said the only way to solve the language barrier was for all Americans learn Spanish. Course I believe we should spend the f'n money on a really tall border fence on our southern border.  

Answer 5

It might have been better for him to put the bilingualism requirement in his ad, but it's his place, and he is within his rights to decide on the requirements for the job.

Answer 6

I guess he wants someone to understand what's being planned at the tables so if he is going to be held up he can call the police in advance.

LOL

Answer 7

tell him to ship the other cook back to mexico were he belongs.  i know in some states, you must be able to speak english to enter the state (Colorado being that very example).

Answer 8

employers are entitled to seek certain qualifications, but this should have been made clear in the beggining.

Answer 9

Yes it is legal.

If a requirement of the job is being able to communicate with the rest of the kitchen staff (who speaks Spanish and not English) then yes. A skill required by the job is to be bi-lingual.  

Answer 10

Nothing illegal about requiring knowledge of a second language as a prerequisite to employment.

But, take this advice.  If you plan on making a career of being a cook, and plan on working anywhere outside of North Dakota or Maine, then enroll in a beginner's Spanish class.  Community colleges often have adult night courses that are very inexpensive.

You don't even need to be very fluent.  In reality, there really is not much to say in a kitchen, except maybe lave ese plato (wash that dish) or deme una cuchara grande (give me a big spoon).

Answer 11

You're a cook and you don't speak Spanish?  How is that even possible?  Even my friend who is a *sushi* chef learned to speak Spanish to work in a sushi restaurant.

No, it's not illegal.  The majority of the kitchen workers speak Spanish, and to work there you need to be able to communicate with them.  It was obvious from your story that the decision had nothing to do with your ethnicity.

Answer 12

BULL ! !

Answer 13

First....unless you're talking about an Iroquois, Munsee, Delaware, etc. tribal language, then it's a foreign language.  English?  You might notice that England is a long way from here.  

Of course he doesn't have to hire you....you are unable to adequately perform the job.