Just days after an online petition gathered more than 15,000 signatures to boycott Whole Foods, the nation’s largest natural foods chain has revised its English-only language policy for employees.
Whole Foods has a whole new language policy for its employees.
Just days after an online petition began to gather momentum after two Whole Foods employees say they were suspended for speaking Spanish to each other on the job, the nation’s largest natural foods chain has apologized for its unclear language policy — and changed it.
Whole Foods Market co-CEO Walter Robb posted this statement on his blog on Friday: “On behalf of our senior leadership team, I apologize that a section of our employee handbook regarding team member interactions in the workplace was not clearly written, and for any misunderstandings or offense it has created,” Robb said. “Its intention was to foster inclusion, not exclusion. We have changed the wording of this section and will ensure the new wording and more importantly, the intention behind it, is reviewed and discussed at all store and facility meetings, which will be within 45 days’ time.”
STORY: Workers say Whole Foods banned use of Spanish
The move came shortly after activists from the organization MoveOn.org delivered a petition started by ProgressNow New Mexico to Whole Foods headquarters in Austin to demand that the company end its “English only” policy in stores. The petition amassed more than 15,000 signatures in about one week. Those who signed said they would boycott shopping at Whole Foods.
For Whole Foods, a chain whose natural and organic food offerings tend to attract a large number of shoppers with liberal political views, the petition has been a thorn in its image. The move is expected to nudge other retailers to revise or reconsider their language policies, too.
On Thursday, activists from MoveOn.org delivered the petition to Whole Foods headquarters in Austin to demand that the company end its “English-only” policy in stores.
“We are thankful that the company listened to its customers and was willing to revise its policies to reflect the growing diversity of our communities,” says Pat Davis, executive director of ProgressNow New Mexico, an advocacy organization based in Albuquerque.
Robb says it’s been a learning experience for Whole Foods.
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