Workshop gives tips for recognizing discrimination
By Amber Dawe
Reflejos Correspondent

Employers who require that employees speak only English on the job may be breaking the law, according to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

According to the law, employers cannot prohibit employees from speaking their native language on the job, unless the employer shows that using English exclusively is necessary for conducting business, said Cristina Wodka, an investigator with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Wodka was one of several representatives from government agencies who gave presentations at a “Know Your Rights” workshop, held June 29 at Gail Borden Public Library in Elgin.

Most of the attendees were Hispanic at the event, a one-stop source of information pertaining to employment discrimination, equal pay, minimum wage, overtime, immigration and civil rights.

Throughout the evening, a panel of authorities from the Illinois Department of Labor, the City of Elgin, Elgin Human Relations Committee, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s office, and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission shed light on issues that often affect Latinos.

Jessica Jaramillo-Habeck, Latino liaison for the Illinois attorney general, said her office receives about 26,000 complaints a year, and the majority of those come from Latinos who feel they have been victims of consumer fraud.

She said the attorney general’s office also can help people who have been victims of immigration fraud, identity theft or violent crime.

Are you a tip-earning employee, such as a server or bartender?

According to Bert Rodriguez, assistant director at the Illinois Department of Labor, if your hourly wage, including tips, doesn’t add up to at least $6.50, your employer must make up the difference.

The Labor Department also deals with complaints regarding equal pay for men and women.

Nancy Hernandez, an equal pay specialist with the department’s Equal Opportunity Workforce Division, said it’s important for people who feel they’ve been affected by discrimination to notify her agency within 180 days of the alleged violation. She said the agency covers all Illinois workers, regardless of legal status.

The presenters also discussed issues related to immigration, social security and civil rights.

The speakers said the most important step to take if you feel your rights have been violated is to contact the appropriate government agency in a timely manner to investigate your claim.

For more information on the topics presented at the workshop or how to file a claim, contact the Illinois Department of Labor at (312) 793-2800, or visit www.state.il.us/agency/idol.

Identifying employment discrimination:

Employment discrimination means being treated differently than similar employees or job candidates. Discrimination may be based on one or a combination of several factors, including age, gender, national origin or sexual orientation.

An employer may be engaging in discriminatory behavior in any of the following scenarios:

— The employer’s dress code prohibits the wearing of religious symbols and clothing

— An employer has a “no-exceptions” policy banning the speaking of any language besides English in the workplace

— A different wage was/is paid to a person who worked in the same job before or after an employee of the opposite sex

— Workplace conditions create a hostile environment for persons of a certain gender, race, color, national origin, religion, age or disability

— Older employees are denied certain job benefits based on their age