Do you agree with this policy about speaking foreign languages at work?

When I worked at Bloomingdale’s in Boca Raton, FL, USA the rule was to speak English while on the selling floor, unless directly speaking to a customer who preferred a different language. I agree with the rule, wondered what the collective thinks.

I figure it might vary depending on what country, or city, you live in. Montreal certainly has French and English used interchangeably with no problem. There is an assumption almost all people working in the service industry know both. Since most Americans don’t speak two languages, I think there is a different attitude about it. In parts of Miami many times I was greeted at restaurants in Spanish, but they quickly change to English if the customer prefers, but many Americans don’t like it, or assume the person does not even speak English. I have never had that happen, I have never been anywhere in Miami where people in a service position did not speak English well enough to help me with what I needed, or at least had someone in the store who could help me.

Please let us know where you live and why you agree or disagree.