Are English-Only Policies Illegal Under Massachusetts Law?

Massachusetts law and federal law prohibit discrimination based on ethnicity. Do English-only policies amount to unlawful discrimination?

According to the EEOC, workplace English-only policies are unlawful unless the employer can show that the policy is justified by a business necessity, such as where English is needed to promote safety or efficiency in the workplace. Furthermore, a rule requiring that employees speak English at all times, even when on breaks, will rarely be justified.

Are you an employee living in Pittsfield, Springfield, Worcester, Lowell, Fall River, New Bedford or the Cape?  Are you subject to an English-only policy? Contact Steffans Legal today for a free consultation.

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