3 Sunita Kumar, who has a noticeable Indian accent, has five years of experience as a front desk receptionist for a local planning department. Through her job, she has met many local contractors and building professionals.

A friend of hers, who works for one of the local contractors, told Sunita that her company was looking for a new receptionist, and encouraged Sunita to apply for the job. After her interview, Sunita was told that although she was otherwise qualified for the job, the contractor needed someone at the front desk who “sounded more American” and was “easier to understand.”

• Was this a legitimate reason for not considering Sunita for the position?

• Would the contractor have had the same difficulty hiring someone with a British or a Southern accent?