News Notes: Worker Fired For Speaking Spanish Wins Big

In what may be the first jury award involving an employer’s English-only policy, an employee for Baccarat Inc. has won $500,000 in damages after claiming that she was fired for speaking Spanish. Irma Rivera worked as a saleswoman at one of Baccarat’s showrooms. After a new company president took over, Rivera alleged that she was ridiculed for her accent and told not to speak Spanish around customers. Baccarat said it fired her for failing to convey a positive image. Rivera sued for national origin discrimination and a New York City jury awarded her half a million dollars in compensatory and punitive damages.