Question:
“An employee says their manager told them to lose their accent if they ever want to be promoted. Could this be considered discrimination?”
Answer:
“Yes. Discrimination based on national origin is prohibited under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and includes treating applicants or employees unfavorably because they are from a particular country or region of the world, speak with an accent, or appear to be of a certain ethnic background. Even if the manager didn’t follow through on the lack of promotion, ongoing comments from the manager about the employee’s accent could also be considered harassment. We recommend that you take this situation seriously and investigate it immediately.”
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This Q&A does not constitute legal advice and does not address state or local law.