Dunkin' Donuts Removes Sign About Workers Using Foreign Languages

BALTIMORE, MD — A north Baltimore Dunkin’ Donuts drew national attention for a sign posted this week at its location on 41st Street. The typed sign, which was removed Monday, said that if patrons heard staffers shouting in a language other than English, they could call a phone number with the name of the employee to receive a free coffee and pastry from the general manager.

The coffee shop is located less than a mile from TV Hill, where several Baltimore news outlets have their broadcasting stations headquartered. Among them is WBAL, and when one of the station's producers saw the sign on Monday at Dunkin' Donuts, she took a picture and posted it on Twitter.

The sign issue gained traction in the national media, making headlines from The Huffington Post to Fox News to Eater, which picked up the story.

This sign is being displayed at a @dunkindonuts in Baltimore. General manager posted a sign asking customers to report employees not speaking English. Even offering a reward. #shocking pic.twitter.com/1kUr0lcYuY
— Gillian Morley (@GillianMorley_) June 18, 2018

Dunkin' Donuts replied to WBAL and said that the sign was removed after the franchisee determined the manager's approach was "inappropriate." According to a statement from Dunkin' Donuts to the TV station, "her intent was to address a customer service and satisfaction issue..."

(2/2)... While her intent was to address a customer service and satisfaction issue, the franchisee determined her approach was inappropriate and confirmed the sign has been removed.
— Dunkin' Donuts (@dunkindonuts) June 19, 2018

Some said the sign was discriminatory, with the franchise not accepting those who speak other languages.

America runs on xenophobia? Dunkin’ Donuts sign asks customers to report employees heard shouting in languages other than English: https://t.co/oRvswkbi6k pic.twitter.com/WoJnXWDZuV
— The Root (@TheRoot) June 18, 2018

Others found it odd that the sign specified that people should report "yelling" in languages other than English.

"We only YELL in English here"


Some question sign posted at Baltimore Dunkin Donuts storehttps://t.co/rJB7QjW2Bs
— Cappy (@capseyes_cappy) June 18, 2018

Workers and customers speaking in languages other than English has been a source of controversy in other states. Last month, New York attorney Aaron Schlossberg, who threatened to call ICE on Spanish-speaking workers and customers in a Midtown Manhattan cafe, apologized for his viral outburst.

Since video of Schlossberg's rant went viral he has been kicked out of his Madison Avenue office building, a Congressman filed a legal grievance against him with the state's court system and a peaceful protest — complete with a mariachi band — was held outside of his Upper West Side apartment building. A video of the outburst was posted to Facebook by a man named Edward Suazo, who said his wife and best friend recorded the display.

Baltimore, and much of Maryland, are similarly diverse areas. In Baltimore, about 9.3 percent of the population speaks a language other than English at home, according to the U.S. Census.

Nearby Carroll County made English its official language in 2013 in an effort to eliminate publishing county materials in multiple languages, according to WJLA, which reported employees and elected officials could still communicate about "unofficial business" in other languages.

What do you think about the sign? Tell us in the comments!

Image of Dunkin' Donuts via Google street view.