Final answer:
It is false that an employer may never lawfully refuse to hire someone because of a foreign-sounding accent; the law allows for exceptions if the accent materially interferes with job performance. The EEOC enforces this aspect of employment law.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that an employer may never lawfully refuse to hire someone because of that individual's foreign-sounding accent is false. According to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, it is illegal for employers to discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.
However, if an individual's accent materially interferes with the ability to perform essential job duties, an employer may lawfully decide not to hire that individual.
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) enforces federal anti-discrimination laws in employment. Employers must demonstrate that the job requirements are bona fide occupational qualifications and that the individual's accent genuinely prevents job duties from being carried out effectively.
In such cases, accent discrimination is permissible if it can be shown that the accent seriously impedes job performance.