Do Joo Eh-sound Rrrye Forr Dee Yob?

A tipster points us to an interesting article on Monster.com about whether or not it’s illegal for a prospective employer to disqualify an applicant based on a foreign accent. The short answer?

No. Well, maybe un poco

Quoting accent researcher Dianne Markley of the University of North Texas at Denton (UNT), (where, coincidentally, some serious racists reside, not that Ms. Markley is one of them), the article explains:

In fact, it is legal to not hire someone whose accent materially affects his ability to perform key aspects of a job. Markley cites the example of a customer service representative: “That position requires excellent communication skills, and someone who could not be understood well would honestly interrupt the flow of business.”

However, Markley emphasizes, “It’s not OK to use an accent as a proxy for discrimination based on national origin.” For example, a company can’t claim a person with a thick Hispanic accent can’t communicate with English-speaking customers, while someone with an equally heavy French accent can.

Fortunately, Americans hate the French even more than they hate Mexicans, but what about jobs that don’t require you to speak to people? (Like this blessed one, thank you, Jesus.)

A UNT study showed “an incredibly strong statistical correlation between judging someone as cultured, intelligent, competent, etc., and placing them into prestigious jobs,” based on the lack of a readily identified accent.

A professional tries not to let an accent get in the way of hiring decisions,” says Victor Arias, comanaging partner of the diversity practice at executive search firm Heidrick & Struggles. “But subtle emotions can come into play, and they may make a difference. Clearly, people make judgments based on accents.”

But even we know that goes just as much for hillbilly rednecks and native New Yorkers as it does for mojados. Accents are equal opportunity cock blockers. To that end, Carlos Soto, president of the National Hispanic Corporate Council offers this advice:

Prepare more than anyone else. Practice your answers in English. An accent shouldn’t matter, but it does. That’s life.

Or as our father would say, “Jiss assept it.”

Do You Sound Right for the Job? [Monster]