National Origin

It is illegal to treat people unfavorably because they are from a particular country or part of the world,

because of their accent, or because they appear to be of a particular descent (even if they are not). The law

protecting employees based on national origin refers to all aspects of employment: hiring, firing, pay, job

assignments, promotions, layoffs, training, and fringe benefits. An employer can require an employee to

speak English only if it is necessary to perform the job effectively. An English-only policy is allowed only if

it is needed to ensure the safe or efficient operations of the employer’s business. An employer may not

base an employment decision on a foreign accent, unless the accent seriously interferes with job

performance.