Federal and state laws both prohibit workplace discrimination based on national origin. National origin discrimination involves being discriminated against because of your affiliated ethnic group. As an example, you become the subject of jokes because you are of Jewish descent, or you are paid less because you are from the Middle East. Here is a closer look at national origin discrimination in the workplace.
How To Detect National Origin Discrimination
National origin discrimination typically occurs when a co-worker, supervisor, or hiring manager treats an applicant or employee unfairly because of their ancestry, accent, or culture. As an example, you are made fun of because you are of Jewish descent. Another example would be if you were of German descent and you were referred to as a Nazi, or you are the butt of jokes about Hitler.
When an employee is not a member of a particular national origin, an employer may not treat him or her unfairly because the employee is married to someone who is, or appears to be, of that national origin.For example, someone with a dark complexion and dark hair may be referred to as Hispanic and inappropriate comments may be made regarding Hispanics when that individual is not of Hispanic origin.
Discrimination can affect any race or ethnicity. Employers or co-workers can discriminate against individuals of African descent, Asian descent, Hispanic descent, Jewish descent, and Native American descent. As an example, someone of Native American descent may be referred to as “being on the warpath” or asked if he or she was going to “scalp someone.” A female of Native American descent may be inappropriately referred to as a “squaw.”
Citizenship Discrimination
The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA) prohibits employers from hiring, recruiting, or referring for a fee any alien who is unauthorized to work. IRCA also gave 2.7 million long-term U.S. residents legal permanent status. IRCA prohibits employers from hiring U.S. citizens only.
To prevent hiring illegal aliens, the IRCA forbids discrimination against people based on their citizenship or national origin and obliges companies to verify each potential hire's employment authorization. Employers with four or more employees are subject to the IRCA, as are workers who are citizens or nationals of the United States as well as aliens who are lawfully admitted to the country for refugee status, asylum, or permanent residence. Aliens in the U.S. who are not legally living in the U.S. are not covered.
Getting The Help You Need
If you believe that you have been a victim of national origin discrimination in the workplace, you should enlist the help of an employment law attorney who handles workplace discrimination claims. An attorney will be familiar with all the applicable laws and can help you get your claim on the right track. Complete the Free Case Evaluation form today because there is a limited time for pursuing a workplace discrimination claim after suffering discrimination on the job.
Additional Resources
- Where to Report National Origin Discrimination at Work
- How to Write a National Origin Discrimination Letter
- How to Prove National Origin Discrimination
- How to Prove Racial Discrimination in the Workplace
- Top 5 Most Common Types of Discrimination in the Workplace
- What Is National Origin Discrimination?
