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National Origin Discrimination in California

Apr 30, 2020 | Employee Discrimination

On July 1, 2018, California’s Fair Employment and Housing Commission regulations expand its protections against “national origin discrimination” under the FEHA. Fair Employment and Housing Act apply to public employers in California.

National Origin Discrimination Under FEHA

The regulations clarify the definition of “national origin” and includes “the individual’s or an ancestor’s actual or perceived characteristics including:

  • Physical, cultural, or linguistic characteristics associated with a national origin group
  • Marriage to or association with persons of a national origin group
  • Tribal affiliation
  • Membership in or association with an organization identified with or seeking to promote the interests of a national origin group;
  • Attendance or participation in schools, churches, temples, mosques or other religious institutions generally used by persons of national origin group; and
  • Name that is associated with a national origin group.

The regulations also provide protections to “national origin groups” including geographic places of origin, ethnic groups, and countries that are not presently in existence.

Under this definition, an employee’s protected national origin status includes:

  • A geographic location or country
  • A formerly existing country
  • A region that is not a country but is associated with an ethnic group.

The regulations also state that “undocumented employee or applicant employee” is the appropriate reference to someone who lacks authorization under federal law to be or work in the USA.

National Origin Discrimination by Language Restrictions at Workplace

Since 2001, the State of California has prohibited employers from adopting a policy that prohibits or limits the use of any particular language in the workplace, unless the employer met certain notice requirements and a business necessity justified the restriction.

The regulations also state additional restrictions on employers who limit or prohibit employees from using any language in the workplace.

Workplace language restrictions are prohibited unless:

  • The restriction is justified by a business necessity. (Business necessity doesn’t exist where the restriction is based on mere “business convenience.”)
  • The restriction is narrowly tailored
  • The employer notifies employees of the time and conditions when the restriction must be observed and the consequences for violating the restrictions.

According to the regulations “English-only rules are not lawful during an employee’s non-work time, such as lunch, breaks or unpaid employer-sponsored events.

Immigration-Related Practices

The regulations place some restrictions on immigration-related practices also. The employer is prohibited from making inquiries into an employee’s immigration status unless he can present clear and convincing evidence that such inquiry is necessary to comply with federal immigration law.

It is also illegal for an employer to retaliate against or discriminate against the employee because of the employee’s immigration status unless he can present clear and convincing evidence that such inquiry is necessary to comply with federal immigration law. The employer can’t take adverse action against an employee who updates or attempts to update his personal information because of a change in the name, government-issued employment documents, or social security number.

Los Angeles Employment Lawyer

If you believe that you have been discriminated against due to your national origin, we invite you to contact our Los Angeles employment lawyer at 310-933-5171 for a consultation and case reivew.

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