Whole Foods reviewing language policy amid New Mexico flap

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Whole Foods Market is reviewing its employee language policy after two of its Spanish-speaking workers in New Mexico said they were suspended after complaining about it, a company spokeswoman said Friday.

The Austin, Texas-based organic grocery chain is re-examining the policy “as we speak, and it will be the topic of ongoing conversations at an all-leadership conference next week,” spokeswoman Libba Letton said in a statement.

The move comes after two employees at an Albuquerque store said they were suspended for a day after recently complaining about a company rule that they say forbids them from speaking Spanish to each other while on the job. But Whole Foods says the two were suspended for “rude” behavior.

Ben Friedland, the company’s Rocky Mountain region executive marketing coordinator, said the policy states that all English-speaking workers must speak English to customers and other employees while on the clock, unless the customer speaks another language.

“Team members are free to speak any language they would like during their breaks, meal periods and before and after work,” Friedland said.

He said the policy doesn’t prevent employees from speaking Spanish if all “parties present agree that a different language is their preferred form of communication.”

News of the suspensions and the policy barring workers from speaking other languages while on the clock sparked outraged on social media and among advocates who started online petitions and called for the company to change the rule.

At a news conference outside the Albuquerque store where the employees were suspended, Ralph Arellanes, state director of the New Mexico League of United Latin American Citizens, said the company has a week to change the policy before advocates will launch a nationwide boycott of Whole Foods.

“I will give them a period of seven days to implement a new policy, which includes (dropping) this policy, or we will hold them accountable,” Arellanes said.

Letton said during the review of the policy, Whole Foods Market Inc. will speak with various civil rights groups.

“We are also in the process of reaching out to groups like LULAC to discuss the issue and hear their perspective,” she said.

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