Palm Beach Gardens National Origin Discrimination Attorney
Florida employers are not allowed to base employment decisions on someone’s country of origin or ethnic appearance. This is known as national origin discrimination. And it is one of the many forms of discrimination prohibited by Title VII of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964 and its state counterpart, the Florida Civil Rights Act (FCRA).
If you are an employee or job applicant who has faced such discrimination, you have legal options for seeking compensation and other damages. A Palm Beach Gardens national origin discrimination attorney can review your case and advise you on what steps to take in holding an employer accountable. At the Sconzo Law Office, P.A., our team has helped many people vindicate their legal rights after being mistreated by an employer based on their national origin or membership in a particular ethnic group.
Common Examples of National Origin Discrimination in the Workplace
In its most direct form, national origin discrimination means discrimination on the basis of where an individual (or their ancestors) are from. It can also refer to someone who possesses the physical, cultural, or linguistic characteristics of a specific national origin group. In many cases, this can refer to discriminating against people from a particular country. But it can also apply to people who belong to specific ethnic groups within the United States, as well as people from specific regions of the world that are not independent countries.
National origin discrimination can also apply more broadly to groups defined by a common language, culture, race, and other social characteristics. For example, an employer cannot discriminate against people who speak Spanish or have an accent that is commonly associated with people from the African continent. Similarly, an employer cannot discriminate on the basis of perceived national origin. For instance, an employer could not refuse to hire someone for a customer service role because they “look Middle Eastern,” even if neither the job applicant nor their family is from that region.
National origin discrimination is forbidden in all aspects of the employment relationship. This includes but is not limited to:
- recruiting job candidates based on national origin;
- requiring employees speak English only, except in cases where it is absolutely necessary to conduct business;
- refusing to promote or assign certain tasks to employees based on national origin;
- paying lower compensation or benefits to employees based on national origin; or
- retaliating against any employee who files a complaint of national origin discrimination.
Contact the Sconzo Law Office Today
As with all Title VII and FCRA violations, an employer can be ordered to pay financial compensation to an employee or job applicant who experiences national origin discrimination. Depending on the facts of a case, the employee may be entitled to other relief as well, such as reinstatement to the job if they were illegally fired. A qualified Palm Beach national origin discrimination attorney can advise you further. Contact the Sconzo Law Group, P.A., today to schedule a complimentary consultation with a member of our team.
