The Right to Speak Welsh at International Fast Food Outlet

Background

Our Employment & HR team was referred an international fast food outlet as a client. One of their franchises in north Wales had allegedly refused to let one of their members of staff to speak Welsh at work. The member of staff had resigned, and brought a complaint to the Welsh Language Commissioner (WLC).

Our support

The Welsh Language Regulations have a particular procedure which must be heeded by the Commissioner when investigating such complaints. Fflur Jones, Head of our Employment & HR team has particular expertise in the Welsh Language Regulations and was able to advise the clients of that process, and explain the implications of the letter they had received from the WLC.

Outcomes

Upon receipt of that advice, Fflur Jones was instructed to write a response to the letter received from WLC, setting out the client’s version of events. Drawing on other decided cases in the Welsh Language Tribunal, Fflur crafted a response designed to draw a line under the matter. Once client approval had been received, the letter was sent to the WLC, containing a full explanation of the situation, and offering remedial steps to be taken by the client to avoid such situations occurring again.