You spend a significant part of your life in the workplace. When you’re facing discrimination at work, it can make every hour feel difficult. If you’re struggling with work-related discrimination in Phoenix, AZ, you deserve to understand your legal rights. Our experienced Phoenix workplace discrimination lawyer at Houk Employment Attorneys, can help you fight for justice.
Our lawyers have over 45 years of experience fighting to protect the rights of work discrimination victims in Phoenix. Over the years, we’ve recovered millions of dollars to help victims move forward with their lives.
Workplace discrimination victims often struggle because they don’t know where to turn for help. You might not even be sure whether you have a valid case. Contact our law offices in Phoenix, Arizona, to schedule a confidential consultation at (480) 569-2377 and learn more about how our lawyers can help.
How Can Houk Employment Attorneys, Help With a Workplace Discrimination Claim in Phoenix?
We all know that workplace discrimination is both wrong and against the law. It’s also true that the simple existence of an anti-discrimination law won’t stop workplace discrimination from happening. Merely citing the law won’t fix the problem.
It’s important to have an experienced employment attorney who can force the other side to take you seriously. At Houk Employment Attorneys, we’ve dedicated our careers to handling complex employment law matters. We’re well prepared to help you fight for a fair deal.
When you hire our team, you can count on us to:
- Identify all employment laws that can protect you
- Locate and analyze every piece of evidence that can help your case
- Identify the damages and losses you’ve suffered due to the discrimination
- Help you understand the remedies available
- Aggressively fight to help you get the full compensation available under the law
It can be tough to stand up to an employer. You might feel like your job is on the line. Our Phoenix employment lawyers are here to fight for you every step of the way. Call today to learn more.
Overview of the Workplace Discrimination Laws in Arizona
An array of state and federal laws exist to prevent workplace discrimination and protect those who have been subject to discrimination. Generally speaking, workplace discrimination occurs whenever an employee is treated differently because of their membership in a protected class.
Our lawyers in Phoenix have the skills to handle all types of employment discrimination claims, including cases based on:
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Arizona Civil Rights Act
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is a federal law that prohibits any type of discrimination. This includes intentional and unintentional discrimination based on “an individual’s race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.”
Your employer can be held responsible for workplace discrimination under Title VII if they have at least 15 employees. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is responsible for administering the law.
Title VII protects individuals who are discriminated against after being hired by an employer. It also applies to prevent discrimination during the hiring process.
Arizona law also prevents discrimination on the basis of an employee’s “race, color, religion, sex, age or national origin or on the basis of disability.” Pregnancy is also a protected characteristic. For sexual harassment claims, the Arizona Civil Rights Act may apply to employers of even one employee in certain cases.
EEOC claims can be incredibly complicated. You’ll have to comply with strict procedural requirements. To succeed, it’s always best to have an experienced attorney by your side every step of the way.
Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967
You may notice that Title VII doesn’t prevent age discrimination. A separate federal law prohibits employment discrimination based on age. Under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA), employers cannot discriminate against employees or job applicants because of their age. The law protects individuals who are 40 years old and older.
Generally speaking and assuming you’re qualified, your employer can’t discriminate against you when it comes to pay, promotions and other employment actions.
The Americans With Disabilities Act
Again, a separate law serves to protect workers who suffer from disabilities.
While disabilities can impact your ability to perform certain jobs, the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) may require that your employer provide reasonable accommodations to allow you to perform the job. That’s true as long as you can perform your essential job functions.
It’s possible that a law not listed here could serve to protect you. You can count on our lawyers to evaluate and identify all legal options for seeking justice. If you’ve been a victim of employment discrimination, call Houk Employment Attorneys, to learn more about your rights today.
How Do I Know Whether I Have a Valid Workplace Discrimination Claim in Arizona?
Many different scenarios can give rise to a valid claim for workplace discrimination. As an initial matter, two primary forms of workplace discrimination exist:
- Disparate treatment discrimination: A form of workplace discrimination where you are intentionally treated differently because of your membership in a protected class
- Disparate impact discrimination: A form of indirect discrimination where your employer’s practices or policies negatively impact members of a protected class in a disproportionate way
Discrimination isn’t always obvious. You may feel that you’ve been treated differently because of your inherent characteristics, but it’s not always easy to prove. As with any other type of claim, consulting an experienced workplace discrimination attorney is the best way to learn whether you have a valid case.
We Handle All Types of Workplace Discrimination Claims in Phoenix
At Houk Employment Attorneys, we handle all types of employment discrimination claims, including those involving:
- Sexual harassment, including hostile work environment and quid pro quo claims
- Racism
- Age discrimination
- Sex, gender, and sexual orientation discrimination
- Pregnancy discrimination
- Equal Pay Act violations
- Wage and hour violations
- Use of family and medical leave
- Gender identity discrimination
- Discrimination based on religious beliefs
- Disability discrimination, including physical and mental disability
- National origin discrimination
- Veteran status and military service
- Whistleblower status
Our lawyers are also prepared to take legal action if you’ve been subject to retaliation for reporting discrimination.
What Types of Damages Are Available To Victims of Workplace Discrimination in Phoenix?
The types of damages you can recover will depend on the nature of the harm you’ve suffered. Like any personal injury victim, your damages award can include compensation for your financial losses and your non-financial losses.
While every discrimination claim is different, some common examples of the types of compensation you may deserve include:
- Back pay and lost wages
- Loss of employment benefits
- Expenses associated with conducting a job search if you were fired or left your employer because of discrimination
- Loss of future career opportunities and diminished earning capacity
- Counseling costs
- Medical expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress and trauma
- Embarrassment
- Depression and anxiety
- Attorneys’ fees and court costs (if allowed by statute)
- Fees for hiring expert witnesses
You may also be entitled to reinstatement in your prior position if you were terminated due to your membership in a protected class.
How Do I Prove I Was a Victim of Workplace Discrimination in Arizona?
Accusations alone may not be enough to prove you deserve protection under state and federal anti-discrimination laws. You’ll have to prove certain specific elements to get justice. Those elements generally depend on the type of discrimination involved.
Disparate Treatment Discrimination
To take legal action based on disparate treatment, or intentional discrimination, you may need to prove:
- You are a member of a protected class
- Your employer knew about your membership in the protected group
- You were harmed by some type of employment action
- Employees who are not members of a protected class did not experience the same type of harm
- The types of damages you suffered as a result
Assuming your employer knows the law, it can be difficult to prove that you were discriminated against. They can make it tough to locate evidence. Our lawyers are prepared to step in and collect the evidence you need to prove your case.
Disparate Impact Discrimination
Disparate impact discrimination cases require proof of the following:
- The existence of an employment policy, practice, or action
- The fact that the policy, practice, or action resulted in less favorable treatment for a protected class
- The employer’s lack of legitimate business or employment reason for that policy or practice
- The fact that the same goals can be accomplished using a method that would not cause members of the protected class to experience less favorable treatment
Our lawyers are here to help you locate any shred of evidence that can be used to prove your case.
How Long Do I Have To File a Workplace Discrimination Claim in Arizona?
The deadlines depend on the laws that apply in your case. For example, you have 300 days to file an EEOC claim. If Arizona law also applies, you may have up to 180 days.
Contact a Phoenix Workplace Discrimination Lawyer for a Confidential Consultation
It’s always a good idea to consult a lawyer sooner rather than later. You shouldn’t have to endure workplace discrimination. We know what steps to take to stop discrimination and protect your legal rights.
Call a Phoenix workplace discrimination lawyer at Houk Employment Attorneys, to arrange your consultation today.
Visit Our Employment Law Office Located in Phoenix, AZ
Houk Employment Attorneys
1850 N Central Ave Suite 2010, Phoenix, AZ 85004
(480) 569-2377
