questions & answers

Question: My boss has laid me off because I will need to go on maternity leave in February. I have him recorded saying so. It's a small office with only 4 employees. He waited until I came back from vacation to tell me I can't come back because he hired someone else since I'll need to take off once the baby is here. Is there anything that can be done?

Answer: Federal law, Arizona state law, and some Arizona cities have laws that prohibit employment discrimination based on pregnancy. The federal and Arizona state laws prohibiting discrimination based on pregnancy applies to employers with 15 or more employees. The City of Phoenix pregnancy discrimination law applies to businesses within the Phoenix city limits with less than 15 or more employees. If your employer is within the Phoenix city limits you may contact the City of Phoenix Equal Opportunity Department Compliance and Enforcement Division voice line at 602-262-7846, TTY relay at 602-534-1557 or fax 602-495-0571. A complaint must be filed within 180 days of the alleged incident. If your employer was not within Phoenix city limits, please write back telling us which Arizona city your employer was located. We will review that city's laws and determine if that city has an anti-discrimination in employment law based on pregnancy.