Being discriminated in the workplace can be a very frustrating and financially burdening experience. Whether you are being under paid or let go due to an employers personal beliefs, discrimination stands against the very foundation this country was built on.

Fortunately the great state of Arizona has laws in place to protect employees from such prejudice. In an effort to better protect yourself and your rights, this article will discuss exactly what counts as workplace discrimination the procedures in place for filing a lawsuit against discrimination.

What is Discrimination?

Under Arizona State Law, you cannot be discriminated in the workplace because of your…

• Sex
• Age
• Race, Color, or National Origin
• Mental or Physical Disability
• Pregnancy
• Retaliation or Protected Activity

What are Examples of Discrimination?

The following are examples of actions based on discriminatory beliefs an employer can be held legally accountable for…

• Refusing to hire individuals
• Terminating individuals
• Providing different compensation, benefits, or work conditions
• Tolerating or engaging in any form of harassment
• Failure to provide reasonable accommodations for disabled individuals
• Pregnancy discrimination

What Happens Next?

After an incident you considered to be discrimination, you will have up until 180 days to report the incident to the proper authorities.

In Arizona, this would mean filing a report to both the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Arizona Civil Rights Division (ACRD) at the Attorney General’s Office. Once the claim has been filed, the ACRD will launch an investigation into the matter at no charge to the individual filing the complaint.

After the matter has been investigated, the ACRD will determine “cause” or “no cause” and issue the employee a “right to sue” letter. Once the letter is issued, the discriminated party will have up to 90 days to file a civil suit against the employer. It is important to note that if a lawsuit is not filed within the 90 days, the employee will lose his or her right to sue.

Hiring a Lawyer

Workplace discrimination can be very costly for a company. This is why employers will try everything they can to avoid admitting any wrong doing and make proceedings as complicated as possible. The right employment lawyer can insure that you and your rights are being protected and that you are not taken advantage of.

If you or someone you know even suspects that there may be workplace discrimination involved in a place of employment, contact an experienced Employment Lawyer at Robaina & Kresin PLLC and find out what you can do to protect your rights as an employee