Law Commons^™

The Zero Sum Game Of Language Accommodations In The Workplace, James B. Leonard

James B. Leonard

A society experiencing high levels of immigration such the United States must grapple with the issue of whether and how to respect minority language preferences. The challenges are particularly acute in the workplace where language is an integral factor in productivity and efficiency. Under current federal law, embodied in the EEOC’s Guidelines on Discrimination Because of National Origin, employers covered by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 are restricted to English-only work rules that serve a “business necessity.” Rules failing to meet this standard are considered a form of national origin discrimination. Academic commentators support this approach …