A Fedex driver fired over accent has filed a lawsuit against the company after he asked to appear before managers to demonstrate his Russian influenced English accent.
The Fedex driver, Ismail Aliyev, from Utah has filed a federal discrimination lawsuit against the Memphis, Tenn.-based shipping company and the long-haul contractor that employed him and was ordered to do the firing, according to an Associated Press report. He worked for GNB Trucking Co. in the Salt Lake City suburb of West Valley.
"I think for a driver, my English is not too bad," said Aliyev, according to the report. He is now working as an independent trucker.
His lawyer, Robert H. Wilde, agrees that he does have an accent "but it's very understandable. GNB said he was an excellent employee and would like to keep him, but it was instructed by FedEx to terminate him."
Wilde said the firing was ordered by a FedEx manager who never bothered to speak with Aliyev, even though Aliyev offered to fly to FedEx headquarters to demonstrate his language skills. Aliyev's offer was turned down.
A FedEx Ground spokesperson confirmed that Ismail Aliyev was employed by the independent contractor GNB Trucking, but decline further comment. FedEx corporate headquarters has not yet issued a statement regarding Ismail Aliyev's firing.
