Work and Customers: Communication Breakdown

Communication Breakdown

By rosie - 08/03/2021 13:59

Today, I was unable to communicate with a customer who only spoke French. As a result, my boss called me a "monolingual idiot." I speak Spanish, German, and Japanese. FML

I agree, your life sucks 1 128

You deserved it 72

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Same thing different taste

Offended

By Anonymous - 04/09/2009 04:31 - Canada

Today, a customer came in who only spoke Spanish. I speak Spanish rather well so I helped the customer. She ended up buying $2300 worth of stuff. I got written up because not speaking English apparently "has the potential be offensive to other customers if they are not able to understand you." FML

I agree, your life sucks 60 177

You deserved it 3 520

By Claudine - 30/06/2015 06:18 - Belgium - Liège

Today, my boss is on the phone with a Russian customer, who keeps saying, "Speak Russian please!" My boss asks me to translate, as he hired me for my knowledge of Russian. He says something, I translate in Russian, then the customer says, "Speak English please!" FML

I agree, your life sucks 26 359

You deserved it 2 088

Differences

By Anonymous - 17/06/2014 15:28 - United States - Saint Louis

Today, I almost got written up for insubordination by my boss. All I did was explain to him that I couldn't help a tourist out because I speak Japanese, not Korean, and that it's not in fact "the same Asian shit" as he seemed to think. FML

I agree, your life sucks 48 807

You deserved it 3 324

By PuddlePirate - 07/09/2012 16:23 - United States - Mountain Iron

Today, my co-worker and I were having a conversation in Russian. Our boss overheard us talking, shouted, "I know you're talking about me! I speak Spanish too!" and threatened to fire us. FML

I agree, your life sucks 30 647

You deserved it 3 435

By Anonymous - 19/03/2018 15:00

Today, my boss yelled at me in front of several customers for gesturing too much while I talk, because it's "unprofessional". I was using sign language. FML

I agree, your life sucks 5 509

You deserved it 218

No comprendo

By Anonymous - 26/02/2023 16:00

Today, I got lost in a foreign city while on vacation and couldn't communicate with anyone, because I didn't speak the language and no one seemed to be able, or even wanted, to speak to me in mine. FML

I agree, your life sucks 333

You deserved it 992

Charming

By lordoftheweird - 31/05/2022 05:00 - Canada - Ladysmith

Today, I realized my coworker can't comprehend English, or any other language. When I mentioned this to a coworker, they accused me of being an ableist. This is the same person who insults him to his face, knowing he can't understand her. FML

I agree, your life sucks 872

You deserved it 104

Good work!

By Annette - 11/06/2024 00:00 - Australia

Today, I gave a presentation to a group of international clients. Wanting to impress them, I tried to say "Thank you" in their language, which I thought was Portuguese. Turns out, I was speaking Spanish to a room full of French Canadians. Their confused faces were priceless. FML

I agree, your life sucks 92

You deserved it 715

By ChickenBallsPlease - 28/01/2014 11:16 - United Kingdom - King's Lynn

Today, I was eating at a Chinese restaurant, when I stopped the waitress to tell her that even though I am of Chinese heritage, I can't understand a word of Chinese. After an awkward silence, she told me she was actually speaking English. FML

I agree, your life sucks 43 581

You deserved it 16 652

By people suck - 28/03/2015 04:16 - United States - Oakland

Today, while at work, a customer refused to speak louder, despite me asking her to do it several times. As a result, I took her order incorrectly. The customer then finally decided to raise her voice, but only to yell at me about my poor listening skills. FML

I agree, your life sucks 32 381

You deserved it 2 518

RichardPencil 30

Monday 8 March 2021 16:04

If you speak Spanish, German and Japanese, who wrote your FML in English for you? ¿Quién?

fettslaab 16

Monday 8 March 2021 19:39

*English is the global default, remember?*

Comments

xxlk4xx 6

Monday 8 March 2021 15:47

your boss would hate me lol I only speak English 🤣

RichardPencil 30

Monday 8 March 2021 16:04

If you speak Spanish, German and Japanese, who wrote your FML in English for you? ¿Quién?

fettslaab 16

Monday 8 March 2021 19:39

*English is the global default, remember?*

RichardPencil 30

Monday 8 March 2021 20:47

You mean it's the lingua franca?

giraffe_poop 8

Monday 8 March 2021 22:15

I often wonder how much information I lose in translation with customers. Boss sounds rude, ignore.

Regis Bent 12

Tuesday 9 March 2021 2:27

Are you expected to know how to speak and understand French for your job? If so, your mistake. If not, yiu shouldve passed the phone to a colleague that spoke and understands French.