For both employees and employers, workplace discrimination is harmful and ultimately counterproductive. The public opinion of what is and is not discriminatory may migrate here and there, depending on many factors, prompting the laws that govern workplace discrimination to be increasingly detailed. The Arizona Civil Rights Act specifies many kinds of discrimination in the workplace that not to be tolerated, some of which are surprising.
While many kinds of workplace discrimination are obvious, some protections are less apparent. For instance, it is considered discriminatory to segregate worksites or job assignments along the lines of some protected group. It is also not tolerated to treat pregnant women unfavorably on account of the pregnancy. Similarly, the law anticipates the increasing availability of genetic testing by prohibiting poor treatment in the workplace on account of genetic testing results. It may even be considered discrimination to fail to engage meaningfully with a disabled member of a company.
Most tenets of the Arizona Civil Rights Act apply to employers with at least 15 employees over at least 20 weeks in a given calendar year. However, claims of sexual harassment can apply to an employer with at least one employee.
There are many reasons a person might consider letting workplace discrimination go unchecked. Sometimes it can feel like the potential fallout for being the one to make a fuss is just not worth it in the face of potential professional and interpersonal fallout. However, it is important to remember that standing up to workplace discrimination creates safer and more productive workplaces for everyone, not only yourself. If you believe you may have witnessed, or have been the victim of workplace discrimination, the guidance of an experienced attorney can help you evaluate your claims and take the next steps towards seeking justice.
Source: Arizona Attorney General’s Office, “Employment Discrimination: Get The Facts,” accessed Nov. 03, 2016