Seventy-seven percent (77%) of American voters say companies should be allowed to require employees to speak English while on the job. A Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that only 14% disagree while 9% are not sure (see crosstabs).

The view that employers should be allowed to require English-only speaking while on the job is held by 84% of Republicans, 70% of Democrats and 77% of voters not affiliated with either major party.

Eighty-two percent (82%) of White voters believe employers should be allowed to require English on the job. Seventy-eight percent (78%) of African-Americans agree. However, other Americans, primarily Hispanic, are evenly divided. Just 45% believe English-only requirements should be allowed while 47% disagree.

Those who disagree include the federal government’s Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). EEOC documents note that “linguistic characteristics are closely associated with national origin” and can therefore be used to “discriminate on the basis of national origin.”

Just 13% of American voters believe that requiring workers to speak English is a form of racism or bigotry. Seventy-nine percent (79%) disagree.

A separate survey found that 77% of Americans believe that immigrants moving to the United States should “adopt America’s culture, language, and heritage.” Just 13% say immigrants should “try to maintain the culture, language, and heritage of their own country.”

Earlier this year, the EEOC filed a lawsuit against a Framingham, Massachusetts Salvation Army Thrift Store for requiring that only English be spoken in the workplace. In 2003, a federal court ruled in favor of the Salvation Army in a similar case brought by the EEOC. The head of the agency testified before Congress that “an employer who establishes an English-only rule has a responsibility to show a business necessity for that rule.” According to the EEOC website, 4% of those living in the United States speak little or no English.

The Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey also found that 84% of American voters believe that English should be the official language of the United States. Eleven percent (11%) disagree.

Fifty-nine percent (59%) believe that election ballots and other official government documents should be printed in English only. Thirty-five percent (35%) disagree and say documents should be printed in both English and Spanish.

Eighty-seven percent (87%) of voters say it Very Important for people living in the United States to speak English. Another 11% say it is Somewhat Important.

See survey questions and top-line results. Crosstabs available for Premium Members only.