Ancestry Discrimination

Understanding Ancestry Discrimination in New Jersey Workplaces

Ancestry discrimination occurs when an employer treats you unfairly because of the country, region, or cultural background of your ancestors. This form of discrimination does not necessarily depend on where you were born, where you have lived, or whether you personally identify with a particular nationality or heritage. If your employer relies on your family’s origins when making job decisions, that treatment may violate the law.

Employees across New Jersey come from a wide range of backgrounds. Every worker deserves equal treatment regardless of their lineage. When an employer uses ancestry as a factor in hiring, firing, promotions, or other workplace decisions, that conduct can give rise to a legal claim. The Bergen County employment lawyers at Rabner Baumgart Ben-Asher & Nirenberg, P.C. are immediately available to help you understand your rights and options.

Legal Protections Under State and Local Law

The New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (NJLAD) prohibits discrimination based on ancestry. This statute recognizes that workplace decisions must be rooted in merit, performance, and legitimate business needs—not an employee’s heritage.

At Rabner Baumgart Ben-Asher & Nirenberg, P.C., our attorneys represent employees who have experienced ancestry discrimination throughout New Jersey. We evaluate the specific facts of your situation, explain your rights, and help you determine whether you may have a viable legal claim.

Wrongful Termination Based on Ancestry

Using an employee’s ancestry as a factor in deciding to terminate employment is unlawful. When an employer fires someone because of their familial origins—whether those origins are recent or several generations back—that decision can amount to wrongful termination under the NJLAD.

If you were dismissed shortly after your ancestry became known to a supervisor, or noticed differential treatment compared to coworkers of other backgrounds, it can be important to speak with an experienced employment lawyer as soon as possible.

Hostile Work Environment and Harassment

An employee does not need to be fired to have a claim. For example, harassment (hostile work environment) claims is a common form of ancestry discrimination. A hostile work environment can arise from offensive jokes, repeated negative comments about your heritage, stereotypes about your community, or other conduct rooted in cultural bias.

These behaviors can be actionable when they are severe or frequent enough to interfere with your ability to perform your job. Even behaviors that seem subtle at first—such as exclusion from meetings, dismissive remarks about your cultural identity, or derogatory comments framed as humor—can cumulatively create a hostile environment.

Other Adverse Employment Actions

Ancestry discrimination can affect many aspects of your employment. These adverse actions may include:

• Denial of promotions or raises
• Assignment to worse shifts or undesirable tasks
• Exclusion from projects or professional opportunities
• Lower performance evaluations
• Changes in scheduling intended to pressure you

Any negative employment action taken because of your ancestry is prohibited under our state anti-discrimination law.

Protection Against Retaliation

The LAD protects employees who report or oppose discrimination in the workplace. If you complain about ancestry discrimination, such as to a supervisor, human resources representative, or government agency, your employer may not retaliate against you. Retaliation can include termination, discipline, harassment, or any other adverse action taken because you raised concerns.

If you believe you were punished for speaking up about unlawful discrimination, then you may have a separate retaliation claim in addition to your underlying discrimination claim.

Related Claims: Discrimination Based on National Origin, Color, and Religion

Ancestry discrimination often overlaps with other forms of unlawful discrimination. An employer’s bias regarding someone’s heritage may be closely linked to stereotypes about their nationality, their skin color, or their religion.

For example:

• Treating an employee unfairly because their family is from a particular country often constitutes both ancestry and national origin discrimination
• Color-based comments or treatment within the same ethnic group may support a color discrimination claim
• Bias linked to assumptions about religious practices may give rise to a religious discrimination claim

Our attorneys handle each of these related claims and can help you determine the full scope of your legal protections.

Speak With a New Jersey Ancestry Discrimination Lawyer

If you believe you have been discriminated against because of your ancestry, or another legally protected characteristic, the Bergen County employment attorneys at Rabner Baumgart Ben-Asher & Nirenberg, P.C. are here to help. Our attorneys represent employees throughout New Jersey and are committed to enforcing workplace rights. To schedule an initial consultation, please contact us online or call (201) 777-2250. Our main office is conveniently located in Montvale, New Jersey. We offer meetings in person, by telephone, or via Zoom.