Federal and state laws prohibit employers from discriminating against workers based on their national origin. Despite these protections, employees in Weymouth Township, NJ still experience workplace discrimination because of their ethnicity, ancestry, birthplace, accent, or perceived ethnic background. Castronovo & McKinney, LLC represents employees throughout New Jersey, including those in Weymouth Township, who have been subjected to unlawful national origin discrimination. If your employer has treated you unfairly because of your national origin, our attorneys can evaluate your case and help you pursue the compensation and justice you deserve.
Legal Protections Against National Origin Discrimination
Employees in Weymouth Township, NJ are protected by both Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (LAD). These laws make it illegal for employers to discriminate based on national origin during any stage of employment, including:
- Hiring and recruiting
- Pay and employee benefits
- Promotions and advancement opportunities
- Job assignments and training
- Discipline and termination
- Workplace harassment that creates a hostile work environment
If you have been denied opportunities or treated differently because of your national origin, you may have the right to file a legal claim and recover damages.
Forms of National Origin Discrimination
National origin discrimination can take many forms, including:
- Country or Place of Origin: Discrimination because you were born in a particular country, region, or territory, or because of your ancestry.
- Shared Ethnic or Cultural Background: Unfair treatment directed at individuals who share the same language, customs, or cultural heritage.
- Perceived National Origin or Ethnicity: Discrimination based on assumptions about your background, regardless of whether those assumptions are accurate.
- Association With Others: Adverse treatment because of your relationship with someone from a particular national origin or ethnic group.
Common Examples of National Origin Discrimination
National origin discrimination may include:
- Refusing to hire qualified applicants because of a foreign accent when it does not interfere with job performance.
- Making offensive comments, jokes, or slurs about an employee’s nationality, ethnicity, or cultural background.
- Enforcing unnecessary English-only workplace policies without a legitimate business reason.
- Requiring additional documentation from certain applicants based on their appearance or perceived ethnicity.
- Excluding employees from customer-facing positions because of their accent or national origin.
- Denying promotions, assignments, or advancement opportunities based on an employee’s ancestry or cultural background.
Some employers attempt to justify discriminatory practices through policies that appear neutral. However, if those policies disproportionately affect employees of certain national origins without a legitimate business necessity, they may violate federal and New Jersey law.
How Castronovo & McKinney, LLC Can Help
Our employment attorneys thoroughly investigate national origin discrimination claims by:
- Reviewing the facts and evidence supporting your claim.
- Interviewing coworkers, supervisors, and other witnesses.
- Gathering employment records, emails, performance evaluations, and other relevant documents.
- Examining the employer’s history of discriminatory conduct or workplace policies.
- Negotiating with the employer and its legal representatives.
- Filing a lawsuit and aggressively representing you in court when necessary.
We work to resolve claims efficiently through negotiation whenever possible, but we are fully prepared to litigate when employers refuse to accept responsibility.
Compensation Available in a National Origin Discrimination Claim
Depending on the facts of your case, you may be entitled to recover compensation for:
- Back pay and lost wages.
- Future lost earnings and diminished earning capacity.
- Lost employment benefits, including health insurance, retirement contributions, and paid leave.
- Emotional distress and other non-economic damages.
- Attorney’s fees and litigation costs.
Courts may also require employers to eliminate discriminatory practices, revise workplace policies, and provide anti-discrimination training to supervisors and employees.
Speak With a National Origin Discrimination Lawyer Serving Weymouth Township, NJ
You should not have to endure discrimination because of your national origin. Castronovo & McKinney, LLC represents employees in Weymouth Township, NJ and throughout New Jersey who have experienced unlawful workplace discrimination. Contact our firm today to discuss your situation with an experienced employment discrimination attorney and learn about your legal options.
