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New Jersey Ethnicity Discrimination Attorneys

Once upon a time, it was common (and legal) for employers to discriminate against ethnic minorities: Irish need not apply. Speak English only in the workplace. We don’t hire Chinese. Sorry, we don’t have any openings for you.

Unfortunately, some employers still hold those attitudes in 21st century America despite clear discrimination laws. At the law firm of Costello, Mains & Silverman, LLC, we represent workers of all backgrounds who have suffered employment discrimination on the basis of their ethnicity, country of origin or perceived nationality.

Our Mount Laurel employment law attorneys take cases in Burlington County, Camden County, throughout South Jersey and statewide in New Jersey. Contact us today to find out if you have legal recourse under the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination or corresponding federal laws.

NJ National Origin Discrimination Attorneys

Ethnic discrimination takes many forms, usually rooted in ignorance and stereotypes. Owners and managers may be hostile to hiring anyone who speaks Spanish or has a foreign accent. They may lump workers from India or Pakistan in with Middle Easterners or refer to anyone from Japan or Southeast Asia as “Chinese or whatever.” Supervisors or co-workers may use offensive ethnic slurs that we won’t repeat here.

To bring a claim of discrimination, you cannot simply be offended. You must show that the employer’s bias against your ethnic origin or home country resulted in an adverse employment action or discriminatory treatment:

  • Failure to hire
  • Failure to promote
  • Lesser pay or benefits
  • Undesirable or menial job assignments
  • Unequal discipline
  • Wrongful termination

In many cases, our investigation into suspected discrimination will reveal a broader pattern, such as preferences for “Americans” in hiring and advancement or dividing work groups along ethnic lines. Your own experiences and testimony of other ethnic minority employees can also support your claim. We educate clients on documenting the differential treatment or outright discrimination so that we can present the strongest possible claim.

Trust Your Instincts And Talk To An Attorney

If you believe you were passed over for a job or discriminated against in the workplace because of your heritage, your native language or other illegal bias, the New Jersey ethnicity discrimination lawyers of Costello, Mains & Silverman, LLC would be happy to hear your story.

If your case has merit, you may be entitled to monetary compensation for your lost wages, loss of opportunities and emotional distress. Contact us today for a confidential consultation.