Los Angeles Employment Lawyer Blog

The answer is No! An employee cannot be denied a promotion based on their national origin. The term “national origin” broadly refers to the country where you are born or where your ancestry comes from, and includes any display of the physical and cultural traits of a particular national group and is different from race discrimination. Your national origin is listed as its own protected category under the law, and though it is separate from race discrimination, an experienced employment lawyer will help you determine if you have two causes of action. Federal and California Law prohibit discrimination or harassment against an employee due to your race, age, national origin, religion, or disability. In California, the Fair Employment and Housing Act specifically prohibits race, color or national origin discrimination in hiring, training, or in the terms, conditions, or privileges of employment.

Do you believe that you were fired, overlooked for a promotion, or not hired because of your national origin or heritage? Are you being harassed at work due to where you were born or your ancestry? So long as you were qualified for the position in question, it is illegal to be denied a promotion because of your race, age, national origin, religion, or disability and it is illegal to harass you once you are there. Also, being fired from your job or not being hired for a job as a result of your national origin is illegal. An experienced attorney can help you determine if you were discriminated against based on your national origin. One way your employer can discriminate against you and your national heritage is by requiring that you and other employees only speak English in the workplace, which might place you at a disadvantage if English is not your primary language. It is also against the law for your current employer or a potential employer to ask you the origin of your last name, where you come from and/or whether or not you are of a mixed race unless it is done with the express purpose of complying with government laws regarding the reporting of ethnicity information. If you are denied equal employment opportunity because of your place of origin or ancestors’ place of origin, or because of you show the physical, cultural, or linguistic characteristics of a national origin group, your employer is breaking the law and an experienced employment lawyer will help you defend your rights.

If you suspect you have ever been fired or have not been hired or promoted because of national origin discrimination, call the employment law offices of Greenberg & Rudman LLP now! You can reach one of our experienced California employment attorneys at 1-800-ALAWPRO (1-800-252-9776) and receive a free consultation regarding your legal rights.