How could Rosa have responded differently?
Option D is preferred because it offers empathy and respect. Creating a space to share and listen to Jasleen’s feelings, she helps build understanding and create a friendly and inclusive workplace.
Finding herself alone in the lunchroom with her co-worker, Luisa, Rosa starts speaking Tagalog, their first language. As they chat, Jasleen enters the lunchroom, grabs her lunch bag and sits down at the table. Luisa and Rosa continue to talk and laugh in Tagalog until their break is over and they return to the unit. Later in the shift, Jasleen approaches Rosa in the hallway, "That was rude of you to keep talking in Tagalog at lunch. Why weren’t you speaking English?"
Rosa responds, “Oh, we were just talking about our kids and how much fun they had during the recent snow day. Tagalog is our first language, and it’s easier for us to talk that way.”
Jasleen replies, “Okay, but it creates a barrier for those who don’t speak Tagalog. Maybe you could be more mindful of that in the staff room?”
Rosa shrugs off the suggestion, “We’re just being ourselves. If you don’t understand, that’s not our problem.” She walks away, leaving Jasleen feeling dismissed and excluded.
Option D is preferred because it offers empathy and respect. Creating a space to share and listen to Jasleen’s feelings, she helps build understanding and create a friendly and inclusive workplace.