The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) prohibits treating employees and job applicants unfavorably or favorably because they are from a particular country or part of the world. National origin is also a protected class under Washington Law Against...
Maloney O'Laughlin PLLC fights for employees throughout Washington, from Seattle to Spokane.
Race And National Origin Discrimination
An accent shouldn’t affect a worker’s opportunities
Language barriers are steadily becoming less of a workplace issue thanks to modern technology. There are now various software programs that can help translate spoken and written language, as well as photographs of signs or packaging in another language. There are also...
Microaggressions and hostile work environments
In some cases, workplace discrimination is fairly obvious. If someone makes disparaging comments about you based on your race or refuses to put you up for a promotion on those grounds, you know you are being discriminated against. But these cases are relatively rare...
Is workplace bullying based on immigration stereotypes illegal?
Workplace bullying can take many forms. Some workers, for example, face bullying tied to immigration stereotypes. This may include jokes about accents, questions about where someone is really from or threats about their legal status. These actions create a stressful...
Can my boss report me to immigration for workers’ comp?
Your supervisor threatens to call authorities if you file a claim after an injury. You likely wonder if this is legal. It is not. Washington law protects your right to seek medical treatment for job injuries regardless of your immigration status. The Department of...
4 mistakes that can undermine your workplace discrimination claim
As a victim of workplace discrimination, you may think you have a clear and straightforward case. After all, you’ve experienced the unfair treatment firsthand, seen the pattern of bias and maybe you even have evidence that corroborates what happened. However, even the...
When your supervisor says “English only” at work
If you are an hourly worker in Washington state, you might work in a large warehouse or a factory. The workplace is often home to many different languages. It is natural to speak your native language to coworkers during a break or while doing a job where you do not...
Complaints about an accent could indicate discrimination
The United States is largely a country built by immigrants. People fleeing persecution or seeking more opportunities travel to the United States. They settle here with their families, seek out employment and become contributing members of society. National origin is a...
How do you prove a country of origin discrimination claim?
Country of origin discrimination occurs when an employer treats an employee unfairly because of their national origin or ethnicity. Washington state law and federal law both make this kind of discrimination illegal. If you face this treatment, you can file a claim to...
Could a dress code lead to national origin discrimination?
Immigrants and naturalized citizens often do their best to assimilate into American culture. However, they may also want to honor their national origins and culture. Frequently, clothing, hairstyles and even makeup play a role in how people honor their past while...