English-only dispute with custard stand resolved

MILWAUKEE — If a customer wants to speak Spanish at a frozen custard stand that had been encouraging English-only transactions, a Spanish-speaking employee now won't be frowned upon for answering back.

Leon's Frozen Custard also is concluding a thorough review of its personnel policies to ensure they are in compliance with civil-rights laws and federal guidelines, officials with the League of United Latin American Citizens of Wisconsin said Thursday. In May, the organization called for the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to investigate the business after reports of an English-only policy at the custard stand in Milwaukee's heavily Latino south side.

A Latino man had told WISN-TV, Milwaukee, that an employee told him all transactions must be conducted in English.

Owner Ron Schneider responded by saying that he encourages the few Latino workers employed there to speak English as much as possible but does not forbid them from speaking Spanish if a customer cannot communicate otherwise. Although he prefers that employees speak English, he said they are free to speak Spanish to each other.

Rules requiring workers to speak only English violate federal law unless they are reasonably necessary to the business' operation, such as emergencies in which a common language is necessary for safety of all, according to information that the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has on its website. The agency contends that requiring workers to speak English at all times is rarely justified.

"We appreciate the goodwill ownership has demonstrated in working with us to bring this issue to a close to the benefit of our community," Director Arturo Martinez of the Latino civil-rights group said in a news release.

Schneider confirmed details in the league's statement Thursday but added that he believes his business always has been in compliance with federal guidelines.

Follow Jesse Garza on Twitter: @JJGGarza

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