Albertsons Instituted Unfair English-Only Policy, EEOC Says

An Albertsons supermarket in San Diego allegedly harassed its Hispanic employees and created a hostile work environment by prohibiting Spanish from being spoken, according to a federal lawsuit.

The lawsuit, filed May 3 by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, alleges that around 2012 Albertsons “developed an unwritten English-only policy, which Albertsons implemented as essentially a no Spanish policy.” The complaint further alleges that violating the prohibition on speaking Spanish—which was also in effect during breaks and conversations with Spanish-speaking customers—would result in public reprimand. The policy and associated harassment drove several employees to request transfers to other stores, the lawsuit ...