Employment law is a set of regulations in the workplace created and enforced by the Department of Labor to legally protect employees from any mistreatment by their employers. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and National Labor Relations Board are also in place to enforce individual statutes of employment law. Developed shortly after the Industrial Revolution when employees were largely mistreated and lacked protection from their employers, these sets of laws address concerns regarding employees being overworked, being placed in unhealthy or dangerous environments or being rendered unable to work without appropriate compensation. Employment law also protects employees from being unfairly discriminated against due to race, sex, age or disability.

Arizona is regulated by both state and federal law and is one of a number of states that has a “right to work” provision in its constitution, which ensures non-discrimination in unions by prohibiting them from requiring employers to only hire union members. Arizona’s Civil Rights Statutes consider the Civil Rights Act as well as the Americans with Disabilities Act to prevent any discrimination. The statutes prohibit an employer from refusing to hire or discharging any individual, or from otherwise discriminating against any individual with respect to the individual’s compensation, terms, condition or privileges of employment.

The state implemented the Employment Protection Act of 1996 to establish that any employment relationship is contractual in nature and severable by either the employee or the employer, unless the employment relationship is varied by a written contract. The Industrial Commission of Arizona is an agency  that is in place to administer and enforce wage laws, among other things. Arizona did not have a minimum wage until January 1, 2007 and since minimum wage laws have been put into place the state is required to alter the amount each year to coincide with the state’s cost of living. The state of Arizona has no specific overtime laws, nor do state laws regulate employee breaks or number of hours worked; however employers are required to conform with federal overtime laws.

There are many more complexities, details and exceptions of federal and state employment laws; this is only a brief summary of Arizona’s employment laws. If you have any questions about your rights as an employee, an employment lawyer at Robaina & Kresin PLLC can help explain them to you.