National Origin Discrimination
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Civil Rights Act of 1866 (Section 1981) and a corresponding state law make it unlawful for an employer to discriminate on the basis of national origin or ethnic background in connection with hiring, firing, promotions, demotions, compensation, job assignments and other terms and conditions of employment. These laws also prohibit harassment against an employee because of his or her national origin or ethnicity. They further make illegal employment decisions to discriminate against an employee because of the employee’s relationship with someone of a different race, or one’s association with ethnic-based groups and organizations. Under these laws, an employer cannot discriminate against an employee because of his or her accent and certain “English Only” rules in the workplace may be improper. These laws also prohibit retaliation against an employee for complaining about national origin discrimination or opposing a discriminatory employment practice based on national origin or ethnicity.
Title VII and the corresponding state law apply to employers with 15 or more employees while Section 1981 applies to employers with any number of employees. National origin discrimination claims under Title VII and the similar state law must usually be filed with the EEOC or the TWC before an employee can file a lawsuit. Claims brought under Section 1981 may be filed in court, without first filing a complaint with the EEOC or TWC. A good Austin national origin discrimination lawyer will have extensive knowledge and experience in all of these areas. We do.
What We Can Do If You Are An Employer
It’s a minefield out there. We can help you navigate it with confidence. Because this is a complicated area of the law, an employer would be well-advised to have an experienced Austin national origin discrimination lawyer draft or review their policies for appropriate legal compliance and make recommendations to minimize litigation risks. We provide these services. We also conduct internal workplace investigations if a complaint has been made, or a problem is suspected. With respect to national origin-related employment issues, we counsel and advise businesses; represent businesses when complaints are made against them to the EEOC, TWC or Department of Labor; prepare severance agreements; tenaciously represent businesses who are being sued in lawsuits, arbitrations and mediations; and handle almost any other employment issue you can imagine. We have been very successful in our representation of employers and we invite you to review the testimonials from several of the employers we have represented on employment matters. If you are an employer who would like to have an experienced and knowledgeable Austin national origin discrimination attorney who has a long track record of success for employers on your side, contact us.
What We Can Do If You Are An Employee
Unfortunately, not all employers comply with the laws on national origin discrimination. Being subjected to national origin discrimination can devastate one’s life and finances. If you believe you have been subjected to national origin discrimination, we urge you to contact a knowledgeable, experienced and successful Austin national origin discrimination lawyer. A good Austin national origin discrimination lawyer can explain the law in this area; advise you as to whether your employer has engaged in illegal conduct against you; advise you of your rights and options; intercede with your employer when appropriate; represent you before the TWC or EEOC; and aggressively prosecute your lawsuit if your case cannot be reasonably settled. We do all of these things and have done so for well over 20 years. We invite you to review the testimonials from some employees we have represented on employment matters. If you are an employee who would like to have an experienced and knowledgeable Austin national origin discrimination attorney with a long track record of success for employees on your side, contact us.