Factory boss bans Eastern European workers from talking in their native languages

EUROPEAN workers at a factory have been told to only speak English after bosses claimed they were making others feel "isolated and intimidated".

Managers at Orchid Orthopaedic Solutions, based in Sheffield, said the "suggestion" is "simply a means to create harmony at work".

But the directive, introduced before last week's EU referendum, has been slammed as "unfair and discriminatory".

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An English employee told the that the new policy is rumoured to have been introduced after a staff member working with a team of Polish people complained about them speaking in their own language.

The source said staff have been asked to sign updated versions of the company's working rules.

Describing the staff reaction he said employee said: “There was a ruckus in the factory, all the Polish people were talking about how they feel discriminated against because they were being made to sign it.

“I feel the company has escalated the problem and turned a small situation into a big one rather than assessing the cause of the problem.

“If two Polish guys are conversing it’s going to be much quicker for them to get their job done, but they can’t do that anymore.

“There’s a lot of Polish and Slovakian workers and it’s them that’s it’s affecting - I find it unfair and discriminatory.”

The medical device design and manufacturing firm, which employs 1,800 people across 11 factories in Europe, Asia and the USA said employees caught speaking in other languages would not face disciplinary action.

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A spokesman for Orchid said: “We are a multi-cultural employer although English is obviously the common language.

“In the past we have had situations where individuals have felt isolated and intimidated when working alongside colleagues with different ethnic backgrounds who are speaking in their mother tongue.

“In order for the workforce to feel comfortable at work we ask that during working times everyone speaks English.

“This would not be considered a disciplinary issue, but is simply a means to create harmony at work.”