Well, this is disappointing. A Dunkin’ Donuts store is under fire after asking customers to report employees who don’t speak English. The Baltimore, Maryland location posted a sign in the store encouraging customers to call upper management about any employees heard speaking in a foreign language, which was then posted on Twitter. Users on the social media site are, of course, raging about the blatant racism.
The sign was spotted on the morning of Monday, June 19th (not a great start to the week) by a producer for local news station WBAL. It states, “If you hear any of our staff SHOUTING in a language other than English, please call 443-415-7775 immediately with the name of the employee.” Oh, and just when you thought it couldn’t get worse, the sign actually includes a bribe to further entice customers to “tell” on any non-English speaking employee. If you call, the sign promises you’ll “receive a coupon for free coffee and a pastry.”
Some question sign posted at Baltimore Dunkin Donuts store https://t.co/jE3oE9ILZ3 pic.twitter.com/v4Oj0OkoNz
— WBAL-TV 11 Baltimore (@wbaltv11) June 18, 2018
The 11 News I-Team called the phone number, which was answered by a man who claimed the sign was old and that he is no longer the general manager at that particular store. He didn’t deny what the sign was asking, though, admitting that he had put up a similar one in the past amidst customer complaints. Eater reports that a staff member at the Baltimore location who answered the phone said that the sign had been taken down.
In a statement released via email, a Dunkin’ Donuts spokesperson admitted that the general manager of the store had posted the sign to ensure a “welcoming and hospitable environment for all guests.” The spokesperson said “her intent was to address a customer service and satisfaction issue” but the sign was deemed “inappropriate” and was taken down.
The full statement reads: “Dunkin’ Donuts and our franchisees share the goal of creating a welcoming and hospitable environment for all guests. The franchise owner has informed us that the sign was posted by their general manager based on her own personal judgment to ensure those standards are being met. 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.”
For Twitter users, though, that reaction was too little, too late. Many users were upset about the behavior coming from that specific store.
That would stop me from ever buying a damn thing from them. I would turn around and walk out.
— Janice Park (@JaniceForAlaska) June 19, 2018
Welcome to #Trump's America.
— Rap Tor (@Raptor2u) June 19, 2018
This incident comes only a few months after a New York lawyer was captured on camera at a Fresh Kitchen while screaming at Spanish-speaking employees to “speak English.” It’s just another example of unapologetic racism that shouldn’t be tolerated in the United States.
It’s important to remember that this happened in one specific Dunkin’ Donuts location in Baltimore, and that this isn’t the company’s overall message or a belief they stand by. We’re glad to see the sign was taken down and that the issue was addressed, but let this serve as a lesson to all of us about kindness, compassion, and embracing all cultures and languages. That’s just what good humans do.
