Virginians Support English-in-the-Workplace Policies by Significant Margin

New survey shows broad backing across the state, political lines

WASHINGTON, D.C. – A new poll finds that Virginia likely voters support the right of employers to require employees to speak English while on the job by greater than a 4-to-1 margin, with 73 percent favoring such a policy and only 16 percent opposing the proposal. The survey, conducted by Public Policy Polling, found majority support for English-in-the-workplace policies among Democrats, Republicans and Independents and within each region of the state. The poll of 596 likely voters in Virginia was conducted Aug. 28-31, 2009 and has a margin of error of +/- 4.1 percentage points.

"As Virginia's workforce becomes more diverse, it become more imperative to ensure effective communication through a single common language," said Mauro E. Mujica, Chairman of U.S. English. "Using English on the job improves safety, ensures a cohesive workforce and presents a more welcoming environment for patrons. Employers must have a right to create a friendly atmosphere where everyone can understand each other."

The Virginia survey adds to numerous nationwide polls that have demonstrated strong support for employers who require English on the job, including 77 percent support in a Nov. 2007 poll and 81 percent in a May 2009 survey. In the Virginia survey, the percentage of the population in favor of the measure ranged from near 70 percent in the Richmond area and Northern Virginia to near 80 percent in the central and coastal portions of the state. Only one region saw more than one-sixth of respondents oppose the measure. Results from the survey appear below.

Protection of employer rights in instituting English-in-the-workplace policies has increased since the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) began prosecuting employers who required that employees speak English while conducting business. In 2008, the Virginia House passed legislation that would have protected employers who adopted English in the Workplace policies. Though the measure passed by a 70-29 margin in the House, it was not considered by the Senate before the session ended. The prior year, the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate separately approved measures that would have withheld funds from the EEOC for prosecuting such cases.

"I hope that Virginia gubernatorial and legislative candidates keep these survey results in mind as they head out on the campaign trail this autumn," added Mujica. "At a time where it is so easy to find discord between different groups, protecting English in the workplace policies is a common ground that provides a winning result for employers, employees and businesses of the state."

Properly tailored English in the workplace directives do not apply to personal time, such as work breaks and lunch hours, and have been upheld by courts at the federal and state level.