What is National Origin Discrimination?
National origin discrimination is the treating of an individual of a different race, ethnicity, background, etc. differently. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 specifically addresses national origin discrimination. In 2002, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) received over 9,000 complaints based on national origin discrimination.
What are Types of Employment Discrimination?
Discrimination by an employer based on an employee’s national origin can happen during the following activities:- Recruitment
- Hiring
- Promotion
- Wages and benefits
- Training
- Work assignments
- Layoff and termination
What about Customer Preference?
An employer may not discriminate against someone with a different national origin based on customer preference. Requests by customers that wish to have an employee fired or excused based on national origin should not be considered.
What Steps Should I Take?
An employee that feels they have been discriminated against based on national origin has several options available. These include:- Filing a charge of discrimination with the EEOC
- Charges should be filed within 180 days of the alleged discrimination
- In addition, the EEOC has a toll free hotline at 1-800-669-4000 that allows individuals that don’t have an EEOC office nearby to request assistance
Should I Consult an Attorney?
An experienced attorney in employment discrimination can be extremely valuable in assisting any employee in national origin discrimination issues. The filing of a complaint and gathering of relevant evidence requires an attorney with experience. In addition, an experienced attorney can help to guide an employee in any settlement arrangements. |
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