Employment Law in Chandler: Understanding Your Rights and Obligations

At-Will Employees in AZ

Arizona is an at-will employment state, which means that employers can terminate employees for any reason, as long as it's not discriminatory or retaliatory. Similarly, employees can quit their jobs at any time, without having to provide notice or a reason for leaving. However, there are exceptions to this rule, such as if there is a contract in place that specifies the terms of employment.

Employee Discrimination & Harassment in Arizona

Employers in Chandler are prohibited from discriminating against employees on the basis of protected characteristics, such as race, gender, age, national origin, disability, religion, or sexual orientation. Additionally, employers are required to provide reasonable accommodations to employees with disabilities.

Harassment is also illegal, and can include unwanted conduct based on a protected characteristic that creates a hostile work environment. Employers are responsible for preventing and addressing harassment complaints, and must take appropriate action when harassment is reported.

AZ Wage & Hour Laws

Employers in Arizona must comply with federal and state wage and hour laws, which dictate how much employees must be paid, how many hours they can work, and when they must be paid. For example, employers must pay employees at least the minimum wage, and must pay overtime to non-exempt employees who work more than 40 hours in a week.

FMLA in Arizona 

Under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), eligible employees are entitled to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave for certain medical and family reasons, such as the birth or adoption of a child, or to care for a spouse, child, or parent with a serious health condition. Employers in Chandler must comply with the FMLA if they have at least 50 employees.