As an employer, if one of your employees claims you discriminated against them because of their race, color, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, disability, age, national origin, religious preference, or genetic profile, you may be facing a lawsuit under the Civil Rights Act of 1964 or Arizona’s discrimination laws. All these qualities are innate in a person, and because people cannot change them, the government offers protected class status to employees. But you have the right to contest the charge with help from a local business attorney.
Generally, your employee cannot file a lawsuit until they inform the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and follow the approved procedure. If the issue is wage discrimination, they can file a lawsuit immediately under the Equal Pay Act (EPA), although, if women claiming they are being paid less than a male counterpart, they can take the EEOC route. For guidance during this time, a Phoenix EEOC charges lawyer should represent your interests.
What Should Employers Do After Accusations of Workplace Discrimination?
If you are accused of workplace discrimination, there are some actions you can take to rebut the accusation during an EEOC investigation in Phoenix. Immediately preserve company records that involve the accusatory employee, which can include documentation of any written or oral complaints made by or against the employee, any correspondence the employee had with a manager that is being accused, and copies of any disciplinary action taken by you against the employee.
If a manager did take disciplinary actions against the employee who is now claiming they were discriminatory, it would be helpful to search for examples when the manager took actions that were beneficial to the same employee. This can show the actions in dispute were legitimate under the circumstances.
If the employee is claiming they were fired or demoted for discriminatory reasons, presenting evidence of employee misconduct prior to the alleged discrimination can show it was not discrimination, but warranted. Our Phoenix lawyers will help you discuss how to counter EEOC discrimination claims and preserve your reputation.
How an EEOC Defense Attorney Can Fight Accusations Against You
One of the best ways to reduce your risk of being accused of discrimination in the workplace is to let our attorneys help you develop ironclad policies that will diffuse any discrimination claims before they fester into a regulatory hearing or court. We can help you:
- Adhere to a schedule of regular reviews and updates for employee manuals so employees know what to expect and how to report discrimination
- Conduct training programs so all employees and managers understand what to expect and how to avoid discriminatory situations
- Implement procedures that allow employees to report alleged discrimination without fear of retaliation
- Set up a repository for housing human resources disciplinary investigations that follow a prescribed and tried methodology
Our Phoenix lawyers also thoroughly investigate EEOC complaints directed at your company by scrutinizing evidence, analyzing facts, and applying legal precedent to create a suitable strategy to avoid litigation.
Let Our Phoenix Attorneys Mitigate the Damage After EEOC Charges
Your reputation, time, employee morale, and business opportunities can all be impacted if a disgruntled employee believes you have discriminated against them. Our attorneys are skilled and competent advocates during an EEOC investigation, and in court, if the claim morphs into a lawsuit.
The time is now to enlist a Phoenix EEOC charges lawyer so we can begin delving into all aspects of your situation. Do not let a regulatory agency’s investigation hang over your head. Contact us now.
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