THE WORKPLACE . . . HABLA INGLES, POR FAVOR

A worker's right to speak his or her native tongue on the job was denied today by the U.S. Supreme Court. The high court let stand a ruling that a California company can force most employees to speak only English on the job, despite Justice Department claims that the rule was unfair to foreign-born workers. The Spun Steak Co. in South San Francisco imposed the workplace rule in 1990 after two meat-processing workers were accused of making derogatory remarks in Spanish and English about co-workers. English-only laws are now considered more secure in California and eight other states with similar statutes.