Housekeepers Claim Accents Cost Them Their Jobs
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — WPBF.com
Some workers at St. Mary's Medical Center claim they are out of a job because of their accents.
Sixteen members of the housekeeping staff were told not to return to work now that the hospital is outsourcing to a company called Xanitos.
In order to keep their jobs, the workers had to pass a background check, a drug and nicotine test and an English test.
Xanitos said two workers were fired for failing the background check, two more failed the drug test and 12 could not communicate in English.
Marie Fortune, who is battling breast cancer, said she believes her Creole accent is why she was fired.
The union representing the workers has filed a federal lawsuit against St. Mary's Medical Center's parent company, Tenet Healthcare.
The lawsuit claims the removal of employees violates a previous contract with the hospital. Xanitos said the hospital is requiring all employees to be able to communicate in English to comply with federal guidelines and to ensure a safe environment for patients.
A spokesman for St. Mary's Medical Center said in a statement that the hospital doesn't comment on pending litigation.
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