EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION

Arizona Attorney General
Terry Goddard
Educating • Protecting • Empowering
Arizona Consumers
Arizona
Attorney General’s
Office
1275 West
Washington Street
Phoenix, Arizona 85007
602.542.5025
400 West Congress
South Building
Suite 315
Tucson, Arizona 85701
520.628.6504
Outside the Phoenix
or Tucson metro area
800.352.8431
www.azag.gov
EMPLOYMENT
DISCRIMINATION
Get The Facts

---

Message from Attorney General
Terry Goddard
October 2008
Not very long ago, Arizonans learned in segregated schools
I will continue to vigorously enforce the Arizona Civil Rights
and ate at segregated lunch counters. Some were refused
Act to make every effort to help employees and employers
entry into other public places based on race. Discriminatory
understand the requirements of the law and know where
attitudes often prevented minorities from obtaining jobs or
to turn for information or to report a violation. This guide
working in their preferred career fields.
to preventing employment discrimination, along with other
materials published by my Office, is designed to help
The goal of the Arizona Civil Rights Act is to eliminate
eliminate employment discrimination and to assist victims of
discrimination in employment actions. Substantial progress
discrimination. If your organization would like a presentation
has been made toward achieving that goal, but we still have
or training on employment discrimination laws, please contact
much work ahead.
the Attorney General’s Community Services Program at
2
3
The Attorney General’s Office sees new cases every week
602.542.2123 or the Civil Rights Division at 602.542.5263.
alleging employment discrimination on the basis of race, color,
Sincerely,
national origin, sex, religion, age and disability. We investigate
and resolve these cases in partnership with the United States
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Terry Goddard
Some employment discrimination violations take place
Arizona Attorney General
because people are unaware of employment discrimination
laws like the Arizona Civil Rights Act. However, other violations
are deliberate acts of discrimination. Whatever the reason, we
are working toward a day when equal employment opportunity
in Arizona is no longer a goal but a reality.

---

The Arizona Civil Rights Act
The Arizona Civil Rights Act makes it an unlawful employment
a hostile work environment or harassment connected to a tangible
practice to discriminate against any individual because of race, color,
adverse employment action.
religion, sex, age (40 years old or older), national origin or disability.
• Engaging in or tolerating harassment because of race, color,
Employers with 15 or more employees during 20 or more weeks
national origin, religion, age or disability.
of the current or preceding calendar year are covered by the Act.
• Pregnancy discrimination.
Sexual harassment claims involving employers with one or more
• Failing to provide a reasonable accommodation for disabled
employees (which is different from Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of
persons.
1964) are also covered. In addition, the Act applies to employment
agencies, labor organizations and joint labor-management
• Failing to engage in the interactive process with disabled persons.
committees. The Arizona Attorney General’s Office enforces the
• Failing to take corrective action when harassment or retaliation are
Arizona Civil Rights Act and also has a worksharing agreement
reported.
with the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
• Treating individuals differently because they have complained about
to assist with enforcement of Title VII, the Age Discrimination in
discrimination (retaliation).
Employment Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act.
4
• Treating an individual less favorably because of the results of
5
Employment discrimination can be obvious and easily recognized, or
genetic testing.
it can be subtle and hard to detect. Examples of discrimination may
include, but are not limited to:
• Failing or refusing to hire or promote individuals for
discriminatory reasons.
• Discharging or demoting individuals for
discriminatory reasons.
• Providing different pay, benefits, or other terms
and conditions of employment.
• Segregating jobs or work sites based on
protected characteristics.
• Sexual harassment, either in the form of

---

The Arizona Civil Rights Act
Disability Discrimination – Additional Protections
It is unlawful for an employer to:

• Participate in any relationship that subjects a disabled employee to
unlawful discrimination.
• Use standards or criteria of administration that cause
discrimination against disabled individuals.
• Deny jobs or benefits to qualified individuals with a disability.
• Fail to make reasonable accommodations for known physical or
mental disabilities unless the employer can demonstrate “undue
hardship” on its operations.
• Deny employment opportunities based on the need to provide a
6
7
reasonable accommodation to a disabled employee.
• Use qualification standards or other selection criteria that screen
out disabled individuals unless the criteria is “job related” and
“consistent with business necessity.”

---

If you believe you are a victim of employment
discrimination, you can file a complaint at:
Arizona Attorney General’s Office
Civil Rights Division
www.azag.gov
Phoenix
Tucson
1275 W. Washington Street
400 W. Congress, Suite S-215
Phoenix, Arizona 85007
Tucson, Arizona 85701
602-542-5263
520-628-6500
602-542-5002 (TDD)
520-628-6872 (TDD)
877-491-5742 (toll free)
877-491-5740 (toll free)
877-624-8090 (toll free TDD)
877-881-7552 (toll free TDD)
The Civil Rights Division investigates and resolves employment
8
discrimination complaints. It also mediates and conciliates
9
complaints and can bring legal action on an individual’s behalf if
no solution can be found prior to litigation being initiated. (Most
employment discrimination charges filed with the Attorney General’s
Office are considered to be dual-filed with the Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission.) There is no cost to file an employment
discrimination complaint with the Civil Rights Division or the EEOC.
Employment discrimination complaints must be filed with the Civil
Rights Division within 180 days of the last discriminatory act or with
the EEOC within 300 days of the last discriminatory act.
The Attorney General’s Office works in collaboration with other
agencies and organizations to educate and train employees and
employers about their rights and responsibilities under the Arizona
Civil Rights Act.

---

Other Resources for Employment
Discrimination Education and Training
Arizona Center for Disability Law
3839 N. Third Street, Suite 209
Phoenix, AZ 85012
602-274-6287
www.acdl.com
City of Phoenix Equal Opportunity Department
251 W. Washington, 7th Floor
Phoenix, AZ 85003
602-262-7486, 602-534-1557 (TTY)
www.phoenix.gov/eod/
Tucson Office of Equal Opportunity Programs
PO Box 27210, Tucson, AZ 85726
(520) 791-4593, TTD (520) 791-2639
www.tucsonaz.gov/eoo/
10
11
Governor’s Office of Equal Opportunity
1700 W. Washington, Suite 156
Phoenix, AZ 85007
602-542-3711
www.azgovernor.gov/eop/
U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
3300 North Central Avenue, Suite 690
Phoenix, AZ 85012-2504
800-669-4000, 800-669-6820 (TTY)
www.eeoc.gov/
Acknowledgements
Funds for this publication were provided by the U.S. Equal Employ-
ment Opportunity Commission. The material in this brochure is not
copyrighted. Organizations are encouraged to reprint this booklet or
excerpts and do not need to contact the Attorney General’s Office
for permission.

---

For more information,
Other publications available
contact:
from the Arizona Attorney
General’s Office include:

---