English-Only in the Workplace

Reader Question: Can we require that people speak only English in the workplace?
– CEO, Hedge Fund

In short, yes. If you expect to hold these employees accountable for following and adhering to policies and procedures, then you need to be sure they have been given the same documentation albeit in their language. Alternative actions could be pursued in the form of verbal briefings, but not without pitfalls. You need to demonstrate that you provided adequate communication frequently enough to ensure that all employees in this category secured the information needed.