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What Is Employment Discrimination?

Employment discrimination occurs when an employee faces unfair treatment based on being a member of a protected class. These classes include age, ethnicity, gender or sex, national origin, pregnancy status, religion, disability, and more. All employees must be treated equally when it comes to hiring, firing, pay rates, promotions, and the like.

Here at Ernst, Brown & Draper, our attorneys understand that discrimination still happens in Mesa, Arizona, and we are here to help. Our team of lawyers has more than 25 years of combined experience, and we all worked at major firms before starting a boutique firm to focus more closely on our clients’ needs. You can count on us to provide personalized services and high-level legal skills when navigating complex disputes.

Common Types Of Workplace Discrimination

Discrimination can take many forms. Examples include:

Passing up all employees in a certain protected class for raises or promotions
Only firing workers because they are in these classes
Refusing to hire workers based on fundamental characteristics, like their gender or race
Giving specific employees the tasks that no one else wants, giving them an unfair schedule, paying them less than other employees for the same work, etc.

Any time that these decisions are made because an employee is in a protected class – such as refusing to promote women to leadership roles – it is potential discrimination. In this sense, the intent plays a major role in these cases. It is not illegal to fire someone who is in a protected class, but it is illegal to fire someone because they are in a protected class.

Signs You May Be Experiencing Workplace Discrimination

Often, signs of discrimination revolve around unequal or unfair treatment. Microaggressions can also be a subtle sign of discrimination – such as backhanded compliments or derogatory “jokes” made at one person’s expense. These types of smaller microaggressions, while perhaps not as overt, can still create a hostile workplace environment. If you’re being treated differently and unfairly based on your sex, age, race, religion or another protected class, our attorneys can help you explore your options.

Your Rights As An Employee

As an employee, you have a right to stand up against discrimination. Remember that retaliation is also prohibited. Many employees are nervous to speak up against discrimination because they fear losing their jobs or getting blackballed in their industry. But it is illegal for an employer to fire someone – or cut their pay, reduce their hours or otherwise “punish” them – simply for making a valid report. You have a right to fair treatment and an equal opportunity in every job, and our mission as discrimination attorneys in Arizona is to help you defend those rights and put an end to any discrimination that may be occurring.

Steps To Take If You’re Facing Discrimination

If you are being discriminated against, here are some steps to take:

Report the issue to your employer
Make a report with the Fair Employment Practices Agency (FEPA)
Make a report with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
Document everything. Make a journal of events, get witness statements, save copies of email messages or text messages, etc.
Consider your options to use litigation to protect your employment

The more information you have about how the discrimination took place, the stronger your case will be. Our experienced team can help you navigate this complex process.

How An Employment Discrimination Attorney Can Help

We know that discrimination is frustrating and that these cases can be complex. However, our team is experienced and knowledgeable in this area of the law, so we can help you fill out paperwork, make proper reports with the right agencies, gather evidence and documentation to strengthen your case and work to protect your rights. You may never have been through a case like this before, but we have. This experience helps us navigate the process smoothly and work hard on your behalf.

Set Up A Consultation Today

If you would like to set up an initial consultation with our team, just give us a call now at 602-858-5940 or use the online contact form. Consultations are confidential and we look forward to meeting with you.