national origin discrimination

The cornerstone of federal anti-discrimination is Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Title VII makes it illegal for employers to discriminate or harass their employees based on certain protected characteristics.

National origin is one of the protected characteristics under Title VII. However, national origin discrimination is relatively rare.

In fact, less than 10% of EEOC charges filed in 2020 involved a claim of national origin discrimination.

That said, if you think you may be the target of any form of workplace discrimination, it’s essential that you consult a workplace discrimination lawyer right away. 

First Things First: What Is National Origin Discrimination?

According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Civil Rights Center, national origin discrimination can involve employees being treated differently because of their:

  • Actual or perceived place of birth,
  • Country of origin,
  • Ancestry,
  • Ethnic dress or habits,
  • Native language,
  • Accent, or
  • Because they look  “foreign” or resemble a certain group of foreign nationals.

National origin discrimination examples include nationals of any foreign countries, like Germans or Brazilians.

National origin also protects ethnic groups that are associated with a certain area, like the Roma of southeastern Europe or the Uighurs of northwest China.

Like disability discrimination, national origin includes both actual and perceived ethnicities.

In other words, it makes no difference if a supervisor who dislikes Turkish people denies training to a Greek employee because the supervisor thinks the employee is Turkish. That denial would still be wrong and illegal. 

National origin discrimination examples also include situations where an employee is harassed or discriminated against because they are married to or associate with foreign nationals. 

Race Discrimination vs. National Origin Discrimination

It’s common for people to confuse national origin discrimination with race discrimination. The difference between the two is subtle.

A “race” usually refers to a large group of people that have a similar skin color and all originate from the same region. For example, a person who treats  Africans or Europeans differently is discriminating based on race.

In contrast, national origin discrimination targets people who have certain national or local characteristics. Examples would include insulting someone because they are married to a Cuban person or because they wear a Scottish kilt. 

Our Disability Discrimination Lawyers Can Help You Fight National Origin Discrimination

National origin discrimination is not a joke. If you or a loved one are experiencing national origin discrimination, you should consult a professional workplace discrimination attorney.

However, it’s critical that you find an attorney that understands this area of law and has some experience. 

At the Workplace Rights Law Group, we understand what you are going through.

We have ample experience with national origin discrimination claims, so we can help you defend your rights and help you obtain the results you deserve.

In contrast to other firms, we focus on quality over quantity. We know that each one of our clients is a unique individual. Thanks to this approach, our clients love to talk about the excellent representation they have received.

All of our initial case reviews are free of charge, so you have nothing to lose by contacting us today. You can also give us a call at 818-844-5200. Don’t wait!

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