Cafe in an affluent suburb is slammed for putting up a sign telling workers to speak English only

Cafe is slammed for putting up a sign telling workers to speak English only ‘out of respect for colleagues’

  • Circus Circus cafe in Mount Eden, Auckland, displayed the sign in its kitchen 
  • ‘Out of respect to your colleagues, English is to be spoken at all times,’ sign read
  • Customers are threatening to boycott the cafe over the controversial sign
  • The cafe’s manager said operations are easier if staff speak the same language

A popular cafe has come under fire for demanding its foreign employees only speak English ‘out of respect’ for their colleagues.

Circus Circus Cafe in Mount Eden, Auckland displayed the sign in its kitchen, drawing the ire of customers.

‘Out of respect to your colleagues, English is to be spoken at all times,’ the sign read.

Patrons are now threatening to boycott the circus-themed cafe over the controversial sign.

Circus Circus Cafe in the affluent Auckland suburb of Mount Eden displayed the sign in its kitchen, drawing the ire of customers

Circus Circus Cafe's general manager Nixon Shrhan said having all staff speak the same language makes day-to-day operations run smoother

Circus Circus Cafe’s general manager Nixon Shrhan said having all staff speak the same language makes day-to-day operations run smoother 

‘This is terrible… Never going there again,’ one Twitter user posted under a photo of the sign.

‘Sounds like they have clowns in management there,’ said another.

‘I had genuinely arranged to meet friends for coffee here today. We’re going to cross the road to Frasers, after I tell them why.’

Poll

Do you think the sign is acceptable?

‘Respect? I think they mean convenience,’ said another.

Other outraged Twitter users branded the sign as a ‘human resources violation’.

Circus Circus Cafe’s general manager Nixon Shrhan told Daily Mail Australia that having all staff speak the same language makes day-to-day operations run smoother.

‘Everyone is from different countries and ethnicities, the reason is to know what everyone is saying,’ he said. 

‘We just want everyone to speak the same language at work and communicate better.’ 

Mr Shrhan said management hasn’t come across any issues with the requirement, and noted that all his employees speak fluent English.

According to the New Zealand Human Rights Commission, the nation recognises English, Maori and sign language as official languages.

The Commission said it has received a number of complaints from staff who have been told by employers that they are a part of an ‘English only’ workplace.

‘It is not easy to provide a definitive response to what amounts to unlawful discrimination in relation to the use of language in the workplace,’ the Commission said.

‘Each workplace policy needs to be considered on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the nature of the work, the employee’s role in the workplace, the diversity of the workplace, the level of necessary workplace communication, as well as issues around inclusion and workplace cohesion.’

Patrons are now threatening to boycott the circus-themed cafe over the controversial sign, which some have deemed racist

Patrons are now threatening to boycott the circus-themed cafe over the controversial sign, which some have deemed racist

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk