[lg policy] Welsh Language Policies

[Dave Sayers]

  And if your staff can't speak Welsh, or fail to learn, sack them.

I'm not joking; that is the Welsh Language Board's actual advice. 
Quoting page 65 of 'Recruitment and the Welsh Language: Guidance under 
Section 3 of the Welsh Language Act 1993' 
<www.byig-wlb.org.uk/English/using/Pages/Recriwtioa%27rIaithGymraeg.aspx> as 
follows:

"In terms of racial discrimination, if it could be objectively shown 
that a certain level of skill in the Welsh language was essential for 
the post and that the individual had been given reasonable opportunity 
to develop that skill and that no other suitable post (that does not 
call for that skill) was available for that individual to undertake, 
then – as a last resort an employer could be confident that dismissing 
the individual would not be a contravention [of the Employment Rights 
Act 1996]."

There are no Welsh monolinguals, and so "essential" is a very subjective 
and unreliable term here. And since there are no Welsh monolinguals, 
those people losing their jobs for not speaking Welsh are the ones 
facing the most palpable forms of social exclusion. Personally, I think 
this takes language promotion a little too far.

Dave


--
Dr. Dave Sayers
Honorary Research Fellow
School of the Environment and Society
Swansea University
dave.sayers at cantab.net
http://swansea.academia.edu/DaveSayers


On 19:59, Harold Schiffman wrote:
> Welsh Language Policies
> Here are a few things to consider when planning to write a Welsh
> Language Policy:
>
> Show intention
>
> • A Language Policy is an opportunity for you to state what your
> business will do in Welsh, and to explain or justify what your
> business will not do. That offers an assurance to your staff and
> customers, so that they can see the extent of your commitment to the
> language
>
> • Research shows that people in Wales increasingly expect commitment
> and respect from businesses towards Welsh
>
> • Up to 40% of people in Wales speak or understand some Welsh, and
> over 80% of people in Wales are proud of the language
>
> Your staff and Welsh
>
> • It is important that you explain to your staff how you want your
> business to operate in Welsh – on signs, in publications,
> announcements and so on. It is likely that a number of your staff will
> have the ability and desire to use Welsh, but perhaps they will not
> have used the language at work before
>
> Iaith Gwaith materials can help your staff and customers to understand
> when and where you offer services in Welsh.
>
> A bilingual future
>
> • A Language Policy is a basis for you to plan effectively for the
> future. It is easy to increase the use of Welsh without much
> additional cost (when renewing old signage, when developing a new
> brand or image, by using the Iaith Gwaith badge to identify bilingual
> staff). A Policy will remind managers and staff to take advantage of
> those opportunities. It will also assist you in identifying the costs
> involved in using Welsh, and to measure and prioritise expenditure on
> that
>
>
>
> To see a list of all the businesses who have developed and adopted a
> Welsh language policy, go to the List of Businesses.
>
> To find out more about drawing up a Welsh Language Policy, including
> how to write one for your business, browse through the links on the
> right.
>
> http://www.byig-wlb.org.uk/English/using/Pages/PolisiauIaith.aspx
>
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