If you believe you have been denied job opportunities or were fired because of your national origin, consider reaching out to the national origin discrimination lawyer at Moore & Associates in Houston, Texas. National origin discrimination is defined by the U.S. Equal Employment Commission as discriminating against an applicant or employee because they are from a particular country, because of their ethnicity, because of their accent, or because of their background or religion. National origin discrimination can also extend to treating someone poorly because they are married to a person from a particular part of the world or ethnic background. If you believe you have suffered from discrimination due to your national origin, speak to the national origin discrimination lawyers at Moore & Associates in Houston, Texas today.
What Does National Origin Discrimination Look Like?
Employees may not always fight back against national origin discrimination because they may not always know what it looks like. National origin discrimination can take many forms. Here are some examples of national origin discrimination:
- Offensive, harassing, or negative remarks about a person’s accent, ethnicity, or country of origin. While simple teasing or a single remark that is later addressed by human resources might not constitute harassment, if the offensive remarks are pervasive, then a person may have a national origin discrimination claim. Workers have the right to feel comfortable where they work. If your work environment is making you uncomfortable or is hostile, you may have a national origin discrimination case. Contact Moore & Associates, employment lawyers in Houston, Texas today to learn more.
- English-fluency rules. Employers are permitted to require that workers speak fluent English only if this is necessary for the worker to perform the job. If an employer imposes an English fluency rule without there being a real business case for the rule, the employer could face a national origin discrimination lawsuit. If you think you were fired or denied a job because you are not fluent in English, but believe that English fluency should not be required for the job, contact Moore & Associates, national origin discrimination lawyers in Houston, Texas today.
- Foreign accent. If an employer fires or fails to hire a worker because he or she has a foreign accent, this could also be considered national origin discrimination. The only case where an employer could deny a person a job is if the employer believes the foreign accent could impact safety, communication, or the operation of the business. The burden of proof would be on the employer.
- Discrimination based on citizenship status. If you are legally authorized to work in the U.S., employers cannot discriminate against you because you are not a U.S. citizen. While employers have a responsibility to check that a worker is legally authorized to work in the U.S., it is illegal to not hire a worker or to fire a worker because he or she is not a U.S. citizen. However, in some cases, only U.S. citizens are permitted to perform certain jobs involving government work or national security, so there are some exceptions to this rule. If you believe you were discriminated against because you are not a U.S. citizen, consider speaking to Moore & Associates, employment lawyers in Houston, Texas today.
- English-only rules. An employer may only require English-only in the workplace if it is required to maintain a safe and profitable work environment. Again, the burden of proof will be on the employer. Moore & Associates are national origin discrimination lawyers in Houston, Texas who can help you if you believe your employer’s English-only rules are discriminatory.
- Discrimination for wearing the hijab. According to the ACLU, women who wear the hijab in the workplace have the right to be treated equally and fairly. Only in cases where a head covering would pose a safety issue would an employer reasonably be able to deny a woman the right to practice wearing the hijab. In most cases, if you believe you are being denied work, being discriminated against, or fired because you wear the hijab, you may have the right to fight back. Moore & Associates are national origin discrimination attorneys in Houston, Texas who may be able to help you if you believe you are facing discrimination because you wear a hijab. Unfortunately, this type of discrimination has been widely reported and can sometimes be difficult to prove. However, Moore & Associates may be able to help you.
- Cultural clothing. Failing to hire or promote an employee because he or she wears cultural clothing is also a form of national origin discrimination. For example, unless the employer requires employees to wear a uniform, an employee should not face discrimination for wearing traditional African clothing or wearing clothing traditional to his or her country of origin.
- Religious accommodations. Employers should also be able to make reasonable religious accommodations for workers. For example, if a worker needs a break to pray, employers should provide these accommodations.
These are some examples of national origin discrimination. If you believe you were not hired, were fired, received lower pay, are being passed up for a job assignment or promotion, are being laid off, denied training, or fringe benefits because of your national origin, you may have the right to fight back. Moore & Associates are employment lawyers in Houston, Texas who work closely with clients who have faced national origin discrimination. We may be able to help you seek compensation for lost wages and for damages to your career.
Facing National Origin Discrimination in Houston, Texas?
The law is very clear about national origin discrimination. Employers must respect workers’ backgrounds, culture, and religious practices. National origin discrimination can impact you in the following ways:
- Hiring decisions
- Firing decisions
- Pay
- Job assignments
- Promotions
- Layoffs
- Training
- Fringe Benefits
- And other conditions of employment
If you believe you have suffered discrimination as a result of national origin discrimination, contact the employment lawyers at Moore & Associates today in Houston, Texas. Our firm can review your case and help you understand the next steps. You have rights.
