Language Discrimination, etc

[Anonymous]

Another immigrant here. Despite having lived most of my life, and being educated in, the US, I still have a fairly strong Eastern European accent. I have found that there are always going to be people who believe that because you speak with an accent, you think with an accent, and who try to use it against you. The thing that worked for me is to do well enough professionally and to get to a high enough level where any questioning of your competence is groundless and just makes the party questioning it look like a stupid bigot. Unfortunately, it is a long and difficult road to get there, particularly if you are a quiet person who just wants to do her work and not get involved in company politics. I have been there and I sympathize.

There is very little constructive advice I can offer beyond using your skills and experience to try to get another job that will hopefully be a better fit. People like your boss rarely change and sometimes it is better for your own sanity to just get out of the toxic environment.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't have guessed at all from your OP that English isn't your native language. I'm sure you have copies of your emails - save them because if you have to file a complaint with HR or even go into lawsuit territory, they'll come in handy to help prove that you aren't struggling to communicate in English. It's also bizarre that your weekly meetings are positive but your mid-year review was so negative. I really hesitate to jump to "DISCRIMINATION!!!" but I honestly think you may have a case. National origin discrimination is a problem, although we don't hear much about it any more. But discrimination based on national origin is prohibited under the Civil Rights Act.

[Anonymous]

Thank you to everyone for posting your experiences. It is sad to see that so many have gone through something so similar.

I am and have been looking for a job a few months now -- even prior to this performance review. If anyone has any leads for anything, even entry-level, in finance or accounting I am looking! To give everyone an update, I was asked to meet with the higher up manager yesterday because she wanted to "catch up." We discussed everything, and although the manager sympathized and told me she had "been in my place" (not sure what she meant), I don't see a change in sight. I did mention to her that I have felt singled out for my English skills and that a missing space or a missing comma do not = poor performance.

I will once again be meeting with my manager on Monday and explain to her in detail why everything she mentions about me in the job performance is either half true or entirely a misrepresentation, and that any grievances she had about me, she did not even try to communicate or give me the chance to work on.

As with many of you, I am not confrontational and want to find a new job away from all of this as soon as possible. My son has been pushing me to consult with an employment discrimination attorney just to see if there could be evidence for a case, but I don't think I can endure to deal with a legal fight. Yet again, I legitimately feel that I am being pushed out based on a prejudice and not my actual work performance.

[Anonymous]

Your work is toxic. But that aside, if you want to improve your accent and it bothers you, you can improve it. Language or speech courses. Have you ever seen My Fair lady? It has a part about enunciation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Yeah, Eastern European accents are harsh- sounding to Americans. Nobody thinks German is a romantic language, for example.

German is Central European, not Eastern European. German also sounds quite different from most languages spoken in Eastern Europe. Albanian is a unique language, but it does not sound harsh to my ears. And OP, your writing is fine!

[Anonymous]

Sounds like its time to learn to stick up for yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I will once again be meeting with my manager on Monday and explain to her in detail why everything she mentions about me in the job performance is either half true or entirely a misrepresentation, and that any grievances she had about me, she did not even try to communicate or give me the chance to work on.

It may be better to write a response to your evaluation and deliver it to the boss's boss or HR. Don't give her time to prepare.

She can always place the blame on you...

you did not ask for help.
you did not report earlier enough you would be behind schedule.
the work was faulty and required rework.
you constantly need supervision and reassurance, someone of your level should be beyond that.
so and so coworker says that you waste too much time and always asking question you should already know.


etc...

[Anonymous]

I am native-born (U.S.) and have a doctorate. The woman I reported to in my last position did not even have a high school degree. For nearly a year she had me submit my written work to her for review each week. Why? Because that's what her supervisor made her do each week when she held my position! It's what she knew to do.

Sounds like you are in a similar situation. You said that your education exceeds your supervisor's? If so, this bizarre obsession with her grasp of English over yours seems like a simple opportunity for her to express dominance over you. Clearly she wants you out so she can hire another friend.

Please let go of this grammar business; also, the whole "you rely on other people too much" thing. She requires you to check in then penalizes you for...checking in? It's a trap.

Keep looking. She has personal issues. There's no way to work through this professionally. Just move on. It's what she's working towards anyway. Find a new job. Leave on your own terms.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I will once again be meeting with my manager on Monday and explain to her in detail why everything she mentions about me in the job performance is either half true or entirely a misrepresentation, and that any grievances she had about me, she did not even try to communicate or give me the chance to work on.

It may be better to write a response to your evaluation and deliver it to the boss's boss or HR. Don't give her time to prepare.

She can always place the blame on you...

you did not ask for help.
you did not report earlier enough you would be behind schedule.
the work was faulty and required rework.
you constantly need supervision and reassurance, someone of your level should be beyond that.
so and so coworker says that you waste too much time and always asking question you should already know.


etc...

While I am still there, I am trying to avoid taking any actions with HR. As for my boss' boss, she is the one who hired my current boss and they are very tight and will side for each other.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I am native-born (U.S.) and have a doctorate. The woman I reported to in my last position did not even have a high school degree. For nearly a year she had me submit my written work to her for review each week. Why? Because that's what her supervisor made her do each week when she held my position! It's what she knew to do.

Sounds like you are in a similar situation. You said that your education exceeds your supervisor's? If so, this bizarre obsession with her grasp of English over yours seems like a simple opportunity for her to express dominance over you. Clearly she wants you out so she can hire another friend.

Please let go of this grammar business; also, the whole "you rely on other people too much" thing. She requires you to check in then penalizes you for...checking in? It's a trap.

Keep looking. She has personal issues. There's no way to work through this professionally. Just move on. It's what she's working towards anyway. Find a new job. Leave on your own terms.

Thanks for your insight. With me, I had worked with my previous manager for a few years before she started sending me emails about my grammar. I recall one email where she reached out to me only to tell me that I sometimes have extra spaces in-between certain words in my email. That manager then planted the seed in the new manager, and she has carried on about this. I absolutely agree that it is about making me feel inferior. And yes, the checking in is definitely a trap, because she herself indicated that we should talk to certain coworkers from different backgrounds about a certain project. That was then translated into "I always seek guidance from others and don't come up with any of my ideas."

I am looking for a job -- even entry-level -- and hope to find one soon. My only concern is that if I am out work, it will make my search all the more difficult. At the same, it is such a toxic environment that I don't feel comfortable working with a prejudiced manager who does not want me on her team.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The manager just wants to give all the jobs to her buddies. The OP is the last holdout and the boss is latching on her language skills, because like many uneducated Americans she thinks foreigners are inferior and illiterate.
Still, I recommend you look for another job. You come across as a quiet, reserved individual not well suited for workplace battles.
Just in case, do not sign your acceptance of the mid-year review.

Yes to this, and file, file, file! I am actually going through this right now at my work--supervisor pushing me out for no legitimate reason so is making up things so they can fire me and give their friend a job--so I know how you feel! You should do some research for your jurisdiction to find out who to file with, because this is a serious issue. I wish you the best!

[Anonymous]

Just wanted to update everyone who was kind enough to offer some advice:

I met with my manager formally once again today after meeting with her boss the week before. The only change she has made is that she will be monitoring me even more closely for the next 3 months and we will meet 3 times a week every single week to go over the work, her expectations and how I am doing. I will also continue sending her each and every email for review. After that, depending on how I do, she will determine whether or not to place me on a performance improvement plan. She has also once again, strongly encouraged me to consider where I want to take my career, also reminding me that I "own" my career path and she will be there to guide me.

I am nearing the point of just quitting, but cannot do that until another option comes up. This has definitely been one of my worst professional experiences.