Employment Discrimination Is Against The Law In Phoenix

The following also is provided in Spanish. Lo siguiente también es provisto en Español.

What is fair employment?
All people have the right to compete for any job for which they qualify and to work in an environment that is free from discrimination. The city of Phoenix accepts external employment discrimination complaints on the basis of the following protected groups:

• Race
• Sex
• Color
• Religion
• National origin
• Marital status
• Sexual orientation (in certain cases - described below)

Note: Persons with disabilities are protected against discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Arizonans with Disabilities Act. This protection is afforded to all employees who work for employers with more than 15 employees. For more information, contact the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission at 602-640-5000/voice or 1-800-669-6820/TTY, or the Arizona Attorney General's Office at 602-542-5263/voice or 602-542-5002/TTY.

City of Phoenix employees with disabilities also may file a complaint with the Equal Opportunity Department at 602-262-7486/voice or 602-534-1557/TTY.

Persons with disabilities who work for employers with less than 15 employees should contact a private attorney for assistance.

To whom does the law apply?

• The city of Phoenix accepts complaints against businesses within Phoenix city limits that have fewer than 15 employees.
• For businesses with 15 or more employees, the city refers the complaints to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Arizona Civil Rights Division.
• Companies with 35 or more employees that do business with the city of Phoenix as a contractor, subcontractor, vendor or supplier may not discriminate against anyone on the basis of sexual orientation

What are some examples of employment discrimination?

• Failure or refusal to interview or hire qualified women because they are pregnant.
• Dismissal of an Hispanic employee for missing work, yet other employees who are absent are not fired.
• Paying minorities less than non-minorities for the same work.
• Retaliation against employees who complain of discrimination or file a complaint of discrimination.
• Failure to provide a reasonable accommodation for an employee's religious belief. For example, a request for an unpaid day off on a religious holiday.

What should I do if I suspect an employer is discriminating against me?

• Keep a record of the incident. Document the date, time, location and comments made to you.
• Collect information and documentation such as witness names, pay stubs, etc. that will support your allegations.
• Contact the Equal Opportunity Department. Trained staff will review your complaint and determine if a violation has occurred.

When must I file a discrimination complaint?

• If you suspect you have been discriminated against in employment, you can file an online complaint by clicking here or by contacting the Equal Opportunity Department Compliance and Enforcement Division voice line at 602-262-7846 or the TTY relay at 602-534-1557 or fax 602-495-0571. A complaint must be filed within 180 days of the alleged incident. The department will report its results to you within 150 days from the date you first filed the complaint.

What will the Equal Opportunity Department do with my complaint?

• The incident will be reviewed to determine that this office has proper jurisdiction over the matter.
• If this office has proper jurisdiction, an attempt will be made to resolve the complaint with all the parties to the incident.
• If a resolution is not possible, the assigned investigator will assess the case for the best course of action, which may involve an investigation.

Where can I get more information?

City of Phoenix
Equal Opportunity Department
Compliance & Enforcement Division
251 W. Washington St., 7th Floor
Phoenix, AZ 85003-2295

602-262-7486
602-534-1557/TTY
602-495-0517/Fax