Houston Accent Discrimination Lawyers

Discrimination on the basis of national origin is expressly prohibited by the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The law very clearly states that employers may not make any adverse employment decisions or treat employees in a comparatively negative manner due to their actual or perceived ethnic background. In addition, workers may not be discriminated against for the national origin of their spouses. As part of the broader protections afforded by the Act, mistreatment because of an individual's accent or dialect is also barred, unless the accent substantially interferes with his or her ability to carry out the responsibilities of the position.

If you have reason to believe that a decision made by your employer was a violation of the Civil Rights Act's protections, contact the Houston accent discrimination lawyers of the Ross Law Group at 713-482-6910. We can help you pursue the legal recourse to which you are entitled.

Examples of Acceptable and Prohibited Actions

Sensitivity to issues of national origin and ethnic background is vital in the modern workplace. Not only are discriminatory practices illegal, but they are also deeply emotionally charged. They can cause lasting psychological trauma and are likely to hinder worker productivity. However, it is also important to understand that there are decisions and positions related to an employee or job applicant's accent that are permissible.

The key distinction, which is often difficult to establish on either side, is that workers may be transferred to a different position or refused an opportunity if the thickness of an accent would “materially interfere” with the function of a job. Some positions for which this may be justifiable include:

• Teaching
• Customer Service
• Telemarketing
• Emergency Dispatch

Contact Us

Accents are often beautiful, but accent discrimination is always ugly. Contact the Houston accent discrimination lawyers of the Ross Law Group at 713-482-6910 if your rights have been violated by an employer.