Was the New Hotel owner wrong?!

cars · Post by **cars** » Mon Oct 26, 2009 4:08 pm

Hotel Owner to Workers: No Spanish!

A new hotel owner immediately laid down some new rules. Among them, he forbade the Hispanic workers at the run-down, Southwestern adobe-style hotel from speaking Spanish in his presence (he thought they'd be talking about him), and ordered some to Anglicize their names.

No more Martin (Mahr-TEEN). It was plain-old Martin. No more Marcos. Now it would be Mark.

This management style had worked for this new owner before as he's turned around other distressed hotels he bought in recent years across the country.

His rules and his firing of several Hispanic employees angered his employees and many residents in the community. Spanish language, culture and traditions have a long and revered history in the area.

"I'm just doing what I've always done," says the new owner, who spent 40 years in the hotel business, turning around more than 20 hotels in Texas, Oklahoma, Florida and South Carolina, before moving with his wife to Taos NM.

Worker's told the new owner, that Spanish was spoken in New Mexico before English. " The owner said he didn't care what went on before, because now this was his business," his rules.

The Taos Mayor said the new owner wasn't doing anything illegal. But he says the owner failed to better familiarize himself with the town and its culture before deciding to buy the hotel for $2 million.

Former workers, their relatives and some town residents picketed across the street from the hotel.

So was the new owner wrong, setting "his" rules", in "his" Hotel?

Post by **Bryn Mawr** » Mon Oct 26, 2009 4:12 pm

Certainly wrong to tell people what their own names are.

His methods appear to be bad for business too and therefore wrong by definition when you're trying to make a profit.

chonsigirl · Post by **chonsigirl** » Mon Oct 26, 2009 4:36 pm

Not a very smart businessman, I hope the staff finds good jobs elsewhere. And I think legally, he cannot stop them from speaking Spanish. But he can fire them, if he is as intolerant as the post reads. If he planned on moving and working there, he should have learned the language instead of being paranoid they were talking about him. :rolleyes:

hoppy · Post by **hoppy** » Mon Oct 26, 2009 4:42 pm

I live in a town with a large hispanic population. Even though we're upper midwest, we know that you don't pi$$ 'em off.

Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Mon Oct 26, 2009 8:28 pm

Guys a jerk wad.

Odie · Post by **Odie** » Mon Oct 26, 2009 8:51 pm

its always been what the boss says, you don't like it, you know where the door is.

owners just don't give a dam....never have....never will....easy come, easy go.

everyone is just a number to them.

idiot jerk.

mikeinie · Post by **mikeinie** » Tue Oct 27, 2009 2:53 am

We know where this guy got is management skills:

(sorry, there is a short ad at the beginning)

YouTube - Funny! Basil gives Manuel a language lesson - Fawlty Towers - BBC

cars · Post by **cars** » Tue Oct 27, 2009 6:03 am

I too feel it is wrong for the owner to want to change one's name. However, the owner said not to speak Spanish "in his presence", which is not really that unreasonable. Since I agree with the owner on that one, people in my presence speaking "any" language other then English, (cause he didn't know what they're saying, likely their reason for speaking foreign language) makes him feel uncomfortable. (Especially if they're looking in his direction):-3

mikeinie · Post by **mikeinie** » Tue Oct 27, 2009 7:36 am

I work for a US multinational company, and it is the second one that I have worked with. In both companies, English was the official language of the company. No matter what country we would be in for a meeting, if there was one person who was English in the room, the whole meeting would take place in English.

In my current company, I am in contact with people all over the globe, and all English, spoken and written is in English. To the point where there was an issue last year where a company we were doing business with would not provide a version of a contract in English, and insisted that it would only be in their local language and we refused the contract. A week later it was in our hands in English.

If it the decision of the guy who runs his company, that the official language of his business is English, and any of his business dealings, particularly with his staff, needs to be in English, then it is his prerogative.

From what I understand, he is not telling the employees that they cannot speak Spanish; he is just saying not to do so when he is around.

It is a perfectly legitimate request.

Post by **Bryn Mawr** » Tue Oct 27, 2009 11:42 am

mikeinie;1256630 wrote: I work for a US multinational company, and it is the second one that I have worked with. In both companies, English was the official language of the company. No matter what country we would be in for a meeting, if there was one person who was English in the room, the whole meeting would take place in English.

In my current company, I am in contact with people all over the globe, and all English, spoken and written is in English. To the point where there was an issue last year where a company we were doing business with would not provide a version of a contract in English, and insisted that it would only be in their local language and we refused the contract. A week later it was in our hands in English.

If it the decision of the guy who runs his company, that the official language of his business is English, and any of his business dealings, particularly with his staff, needs to be in English, then it is his prerogative.

From what I understand, he is not telling the employees that they cannot speak Spanish; he is just saying not to do so when he is around.

It is a perfectly legitimate request.

And to declare "you're no longer Miguel, your now Mick"?

mikeinie · Post by **mikeinie** » Tue Oct 27, 2009 11:45 am

Bryn Mawr;1256686 wrote: And to declare "you're no longer Miguel, your now Mick"?

I actually do not believe that part of the report, look at the way it is written into the story, there is no lead up to it, or nothing to follow it about the name changing. The line is just kind of placed in there, I think it is added for dramatic effect.

Post by **Bryn Mawr** » Tue Oct 27, 2009 11:48 am

mikeinie;1256689 wrote: I actually do not believe that part of the report, look at the way it is written into the story, there is no lead up to it, or nothing to follow it about the name changing. The line is just kind of placed in there, I think it is added for dramatic effect.

I can well believe it - it happened in a firm I worked for.

It was totally wrong then and would be totally wrong in this case and does appear to fit in with his style of management.

princessladedah · Post by **princessladedah** » Tue Oct 27, 2009 9:25 pm

mikeinie · Post by **mikeinie** » Wed Oct 28, 2009 2:51 am

Bryn Mawr;1256690 wrote: I can well believe it - it happened in a firm I worked for.

It was totally wrong then and would be totally wrong in this case and does appear to fit in with his style of management.

I think that it is very possible that the man mispronounces the names. Martin, reads as Martin, and that is what he would probably say, out of not knowing any better, or maybe even caring. Maybe he is ignorant to do so, but I do not believe that he instructed his staff to change their names.

This guy is not a gobshyte, he is a successful hotel businessman who has a history of successful l businesses. You do not become successful by making stupid business decisions.

His only mistake this time, obviously, was buying this hotel and creating employment in that area.

Post by **Bryn Mawr** » Wed Oct 28, 2009 12:21 pm

mikeinie;1256897 wrote: I think that it is very possible that the man mispronounces the names. Martin, reads as Martin, and that is what he would probably say, out of not knowing any better, or maybe even caring. Maybe he is ignorant to do so, but I do not believe that he instructed his staff to change their names.

This guy is not a gobshyte, he is a successful hotel businessman who has a history of successful l businesses. You do not become successful by making stupid business decisions.

His only mistake this time, obviously, was buying this hotel and creating employment in that area.

Read the OP - far from creating employment in the area he started by sacking some of those who had employment.

Raven · Post by **Raven** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 11:35 am

Bryn Mawr;1257014 wrote: Read the OP - far from creating employment in the area he started by sacking some of those who had employment.
might have cleared out the illegals. loads of them over there.

Post by **Bryn Mawr** » Fri Oct 30, 2009 6:00 am

Raven;1257215 wrote: might have cleared out the illegals. loads of them over there.

The point is, he wasn't going in to do them a favour.

Raven · Post by **Raven** » Fri Oct 30, 2009 2:33 pm

But why should he? It's a business, not a charity. Socialism sometimes does not fit when capital is King.

I do not agree with changing ones identity for anyone. But how is that different from me answering to a shortened version of my name?

KSnyder · Post by **KSnyder** » Fri Oct 30, 2009 9:35 pm

Anybody with innately ignorant logic such as that I wouldn't want to work for that's for sure!

"I'll hire you but don't speak your native tongue"

What a twerp

KSnyder · Post by **KSnyder** » Fri Oct 30, 2009 9:41 pm

cars;1256612 wrote: I too feel it is wrong for the owner to want to change one's name. However, the owner said not to speak Spanish "in his presence", which is not really that unreasonable. Since I agree with the owner on that one, people in my presence speaking "any" language other then English, (cause he didn't know what they're saying, likely their reason for speaking foreign language) makes him feel uncomfortable. (Especially if they're looking in his direction):-3

Or looking at his crotch! or lack thereof

Riddle me this!

If he were a nice boss to work for why would they have any reason, within the realms of rational forethought, to say anything bad about him thus ultimately giving him no reason, within the realms of rational forethought, to be paranoid, within the realms of rational forethought!??!??!??!?

Within the realms of rational forethought!!!!!!!!!!!!:yh_silly

Within the realms of rational forethought!!!!!!!!!!!!:yh_silly

Within the realms of rational forethought!!!!!!!!!!!!:yh_silly

Within the realms of rational forethought!!!!!!!!!!!!:yh_silly

Within the realms of rational forethought!!!!!!!!!!!!:yh_silly

Within the realms of rational forethought!!!!!!!!!!!!:yh_silly

Within the realms of rational forethought!!!!!!!!!!!!:yh_silly

Within the realms of rational forethought!!!!!!!!!!!!:yh_silly

cars · Post by **cars** » Sat Oct 31, 2009 3:23 am

KSnyder;1257693 wrote: Or looking at his crotch! or lack thereof

Riddle me this!

If he were a nice boss to work for why would they have any reason, within the realms of rational forethought, to say anything bad about him thus ultimately giving him no reason, within the realms of rational forethought, to be paranoid, within the realms of rational forethought!??!??!??!?

Within the realms of rational forethought!!!!!!!!!!!!:yh_silly

Within the realms of rational forethought!!!!!!!!!!!!:yh_silly

Within the realms of rational forethought!!!!!!!!!!!!:yh_silly

Within the realms of rational forethought!!!!!!!!!!!!:yh_silly

Within the realms of rational forethought!!!!!!!!!!!!:yh_silly

Within the realms of rational forethought!!!!!!!!!!!!:yh_silly

Within the realms of rational forethought!!!!!!!!!!!!:yh_silly

Within the realms of rational forethought!!!!!!!!!!!!:yh_silly
Where is it written he has to (or wants to) be a nice boss? He's a businessman who invested "$2,000,000 of his own money" doing what he thinks (has successfully done in the past) to make the investment pay off! It's just a business to him. :-2

Post by **Bryn Mawr** » Sat Oct 31, 2009 6:35 am

Raven;1257521 wrote: But why should he? It's a business, not a charity. Socialism sometimes does not fit when capital is King.

I do not agree with changing ones identity for anyone. But how is that different from me answering to a shortened version of my name?

I'm not suggesting he should - Mike suggested that he did and I disagreed.

KSnyder · Post by **KSnyder** » Sat Oct 31, 2009 10:55 am

cars;1257715 wrote: Where is it written he has to (or wants to) be a nice boss? He's a businessman who invested "$2,000,000 of his own money" doing what he thinks (has successfully done in the past) to make the investment pay off! It's just a business to him. :-2

Not exactly written, aside from the realms of rational forethought!!!!!!!!!!!!:yh_silly! The difference being that he's the one worried about what they're saying which would ultimately keep him from being inappropriately paranoid!

Simple really!

cars · Post by **cars** » Sat Oct 31, 2009 3:11 pm

KSnyder;1257847 wrote: Not exactly written, aside from the realms of rational forethought!!!!!!!!!!!!:yh_silly! The difference being that he's the one worried about what they're saying which would ultimately keep him from being inappropriately paranoid!

Simple really!
If it was your business, you would look at it differently.

Business owners, which apparently you are not, look to make money, simple as that, and only that! (Not friends)

KSnyder · Post by **KSnyder** » Sat Oct 31, 2009 3:50 pm

cars;1257930 wrote: If it was your business, you would look at it differently.

Business owners, which apparently you are not, look to make money, simple as that, and only that! (Not friends)

No I'm a businessman cars you just refuse to admire morality that's all!

My business is defined as being content with paying my bills and making people smile knowing they don't have to work the disk out of their back because they have to pay out their

to appease the embarrassment of a sad saps small penis!

cars · Post by **cars** » Sat Oct 31, 2009 4:16 pm

KSnyder;1257941 wrote: No I'm a businessman cars you just refuse to admire morality that's all!

My business is defined as being content with paying my bills and making people smile knowing they don't have to work the disk out of their back because they have to pay out their

to appease the embarrassment of a sad saps small penis!
You make friends, he makes money, that's a businessman!

KSnyder · Post by **KSnyder** » Sat Oct 31, 2009 4:40 pm

cars;1257951 wrote: You make friends, he makes money, that's a businessman!

By your definition of "businessman" yes! We shan't go around claiming money is the "ideal" response to life!

cars · Post by **cars** » Sun Nov 01, 2009 7:12 am

KSnyder;1257965 wrote: By your definition of "businessman" yes! We shan't go around claiming money is the "ideal" response to life!
Money can't buy everything, it can't buy sadness!:-2