Labor Laws in Arizona
- Labor laws in Arizona protect workers from unfair practices.aktenkoffer image by binagel from Fotolia.com
Like most states, Arizona has several labor laws in place to protect its workers. These laws cover everything from discrimination in the hiring process to unemployment benefits. As a worker, it's crucial for you to know the most important of these laws. It is the only way for you to protect yourself from being treated unfairly in the workplace. - Arizona law forbids employers from refusing to hire workers based on their race, sex, religion, nation of origin or age. Employers also can't refuse to hire an employee because of a disability, unless that disability makes a worker unable to perform basic job functions. However, employers in Arizona are not forced to hire the person who is most qualified for the job; they are allowed more discretion in choosing whom to hire. Because Arizona is what is known as an "at will" state, employers here can fire their workers for any reason, except for illegals ones, mainly related to discrimination based on age, race, sex, national origin, religion or disability.
- Arizona is a "no fault" state when it comes to workers compensation, according to the Arizona Industrial Commission. This means that employees, when injured at work, receive medical and monetary compensation even if they caused the accident that injured them. In the most severe of injuries, employees may receive permanent compensation, often in the form of a monthly check. Employees who are injured enough so that they can no longer perform their former duties may also receive job retraining so that they can work in a new field.
- Workers who are unemployed through no fault of their own can apply for unemployment benefits from the Arizona Department of Economic Security. Because the department does not have unemployment insurance offices, applicants must apply either online or by phone at the Arizona Unemployment Insurance Call Center. The number to call varies depending on in what part of the state you live in. The amount of unemployment benefits you receive each week depends on how much you were earning at your most recent position. You may qualify for up to 26 weeks of payments. Unless you request otherwise, you will receive your payments through an electronic payment card system. You will receive a type of debit card through the mail that will have a balance of zero until you receive your first weekly round of unemployment benefits. To keep receiving benefits, you will have to file weekly claims, which you can do online with the Arizona Department of Economic Security.
