NATIONAL ORIGIN DISCRIMINATION
National Origin Discrimination in the Workplace: West Virginia and Ohio
Where you or your family came from has no bearing on your ability to do your job. Yet employers continue to discriminate against workers based on their national origin — targeting employees because of their country of birth, ancestry, ethnicity, accent, or perceived foreignness. Federal and state laws make national origin discrimination illegal in all aspects of employment, and workers who experience this form of discrimination have the right to take legal action. At Klie Law Offices, our employment law attorneys represent workers throughout West Virginia and Ohio who have been subjected to national origin discrimination and help them hold their employers accountable.
We handle national origin discrimination cases from our offices in Buckhannon, Clarksburg, Morgantown, Parkersburg, and Canton, Ohio.
What Is National Origin Discrimination?
National origin discrimination is prohibited by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the West Virginia Human Rights Act, and Ohio Revised Code Chapter 4112. These laws cover all aspects of employment including hiring, firing, pay, promotions, job assignments, training, benefits, and every other term and condition of employment.
Common Forms of National Origin Discrimination
Hiring and Promotion Discrimination
Language Discrimination
Similarly, discrimination based on an employee’s accent — refusing to promote or assigning less favorable duties because of how an employee speaks English — is illegal unless the accent genuinely interferes with the employee’s ability to perform a specific job function, such as a position that requires clear oral communication with customers. The employer bears the burden of demonstrating that the accent actually prevents effective job performance, not merely that customers or coworkers have a preference for a particular way of speaking.
Harassment Based on National Origin
Citizenship Status Discrimination
Discriminatory Policies and Practices
National Origin Discrimination and Intersecting Claims
National origin discrimination frequently intersects with other forms of illegal conduct. Race discrimination claims may overlap when the discrimination targets both an employee’s ethnicity and racial identity. Religious discrimination claims arise when the employee’s national origin is associated with a particular religion — for example, discrimination against a Middle Eastern employee that is motivated by anti-Muslim bias. Retaliation claims arise when the employer punishes an employee for complaining about national origin discrimination. And wrongful termination claims are available when the discrimination results in job loss.
West Virginia Protections
Ohio Protections
Client Reviews
Filing a National Origin Discrimination Claim
Damages in National Origin Discrimination Cases
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Why Choose Klie Law Offices
National origin discrimination cases require attorneys who understand the overlapping federal and state frameworks that protect workers and who can identify all available legal theories. At Klie Law Offices, our employment law team has extensive experience handling national origin discrimination claims in West Virginia and Ohio. We represent workers from all backgrounds and fight to ensure that every employee is evaluated based on their qualifications and performance — not where they come from.
Discriminated Against Because of Your National Origin?
Office Locations
Buckhannon
Buckhannon, WV 26201
Parkersburg
Parkersburg, WV 26101
Clarksburg
Clarksburg, WV 26301
Morgantown
102, Morgantown, WV 26508
Canton, OH
Suite 606
Canton OH, 44718
The first thing you’ll notice when you come to our Law Offices is that we’ll listen to your story. We want to know what you’re going through and what you need. Then, we’ll explain how West Virginia law applies to your specific situation and what your legal options are. There are no cookie-cutter answers here. We create a legal strategy tailored to each client’s individual needs.
Depending on your situation, we will find the right path forward. We are adept at resolving your legal matters through negotiation and mediation whenever possible. But we also won’t hesitate to take your case to trial if that’s what it takes to get the best possible outcome for you.
If you’re facing a legal challenge and need someone in your corner, don’t wait to get the help you deserve. Contact Klie Law Offices today to schedule a confidential consultation and take the first step toward a solution that works for you.





























