Discrimination Lawyers in Phoenix

Helping You Fight Back against Unjust Discrimination in the Workplace

Throughout the United States, it is illegal for employers to discriminate against their workers. Workplace discrimination can take many forms—perhaps you were fully qualified for a job but did not get hired based on your sexual orientation. Maybe you were unfairly let go from a job because of your race or religion. Maybe you were offered lower wages than a coworker who does similar work based on your gender. Even harassment, when it is based on race, sex, gender, age, etc. is a form of discrimination.

If you believe you were discriminated against by an employer, Montoya, Lucero & Pastor, P.A. can help you take legal action. Our Phoenix discrimination lawyers have more than six decades of experience handling all types of employment law issues, including workplace discrimination. We understand how the process works and can act as your advocate.

Understanding Your Employee Rights

Workers across all industries are protected by law. Whether you work for a private company, in construction, at a school, or in local government, you have the right to a discrimination-free workplace. However, in order to take action against an employer for discrimination, you must show that the employer’s actions violated discrimination laws.

Employers are also barred from retaliating against a worker who has filed a complaint regarding workplace discrimination. This means that your employer cannot fire you, force you to take a leave of absence, or unfairly lower your pay if you file a discrimination complaint.

How to File an Employee Discrimination Claim

In Arizona, you may either file a complaint on the state level (Civil Rights Division of the state attorney general’s office) or the federal level (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission). It is not necessary to file a discrimination complaint with both agencies, as they work together to process claims. You simply need to note that you’d like to have your claim cross-filed with both agencies. If your employer has less than 15 employees, and you wish to file a sexual harassment claim, you will need to go through the Civil Rights Division, as workplaces with fewer than 15 employees are not covered by federal law.