Immigrant discrimination: Stand up for yourself

It’s the harsh reality that many people in America are treated as if they’re lesser than others as a result of being an immigrant or appearing to be an immigrant. For some, this means facing discrimination despite being born in the United States, even though that is unfair and illegal.

U.S. law requires that employers and others be fair to those who are immigrants or have a different religious or cultural background. In fact, if you are discriminated against because of your culture or cultural background, you can even bring a claim against an employer.

As an immigrant, you have to beware of discrimination

No matter where you come from, it’s necessary for you to beware of unfair discrimination. However, you may not be sure how to recognize it. Here are a few things that might signal that a potential employer is discriminating against you due to your culture, religion or other factors that are protected by law.

• The employer makes fun of your accent. It’s very disrespectful to make fun of a person’s accent. It could be argued that doing so shows that there is intolerance in that workplace for people who hail from other countries or backgrounds. It could also be argued that the employer would not hire the individual due to racism.
• The employer or interviewer comments on your skin color or asks unusual questions about blending in on the job
• You find out that someone hiring candidates said they’d never hire someone of your background (Mexican, Black, Asian or others)

It can be hard when you realize that some people are inherently racist or that they have a cultural bias, but it’s very much the reality in much of America. Fortunately, you can protect yourself against unfair treatment from people like this. Your attorney will help you build a case to show that the company discriminated against you, so you can seek protections through the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and compensation for the unequal treatment you have faced in the United States. No matter who you are, you should be treated with respect in the U.S.

Employers must not discriminate when hiring, firing, promoting or scheduling workers. Employers have to treat individuals fairly regardless of the place they are in the hiring or work process.

What can you do if you’re discriminated against?

If you are discriminated against, don’t be scared to talk to a qualified Baton Rouge attorney. Your attorney will work with you to help you fight back and get compensation for unfair treatment.