Language Rights
An employee may be being subjected to language discrimination if his or her primary language is not English but the workplace has a “speak-English-only” policy. Some employees may also be victims of language discrimination by being treated worse than other employees because they speak English with an accent, or by being told they do not qualify for a position because of a lack of English proficiency. Outside of employment, language discrimination may also occur if a person is denied access to businesses or government services because he or she does not speak English.
Check these fact sheets and resources for information about your rights and steps you can take to protect them. If you need further information or assistance, contact our Language Rights Project.
Fact Sheets and Other Self-Help Tools
- Language Discrimination printer-friendly version
- Employment Rights of Undocumented Workers printer-friendly version
- Discrimination and Harassment in Employment printer-friendly version
- Sample Letter: English-Only Rules in the Workplace Word format