Posted On:

There’s big news for employers in Arizona. The state recently expanded anti-bias laws that will affect employers, hiring, and management moving forward. It’s essential to stay up to date with the latest information that could impact your business. Here are a few things you should know about the new law in Arizona and how it may come into play for hiring and employee management.

ACRA and the Civil Rights Act

The ACRA was enacted in Arizona the same year as the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits employers with 15 employees or more from discriminating based on race, color, religion, national origin, age, and national origin. As the Civil Rights Act has been updated over the years, so has the ACRA. In February, the governor signed HB 2045, which expanded ACRA to include more information.

Expansion to Include Pregnancy and Childbirth

The bill went into effect in January, and now ACRA expanded its coverage for pregnancy and childbirth. While it was already illegal to discriminate against pregnant women or women who have recently given birth, it is protected much like any other type of temporary disability. Now, women who feel like they’ve been treated differently from others with a temporary disability can have their case investigated by the attorney general.

Glendale City Ordinance to Protect LGBTQ+

There are additional protections now in place across Arizona for other groups. This year, Glendale became the ninth city in Arizona to pass protections for the LGBTQ+ community. The ordinance protects LGBTQ+ individuals and families from discrimination, including in employment. It includes gender identity and sexual orientation in the language and applies to employers with more than five employees.

The CROWN Act in Tucson

And recently, Tucson became the tenth city in the United States and the first in Arizona to pass the CROWN act. The CROWN act protects employees from discrimination based on the texture or style of their hair. The CROWN Act has resulted from a national movement to bring recognition to the discrimination felt by African American women in the workplace regarding natural hair and protective styles such as braids or twists.

Do you want to know more about your responsibilities as an employer in Arizona?

Anserteam Workforce Alliance represents North America’s very best staffing agencies aligned together to deliver world-class workforce management solutions. We offer end-to-end talent services that can be customized for any size business, utilizing our Managed Services Provider (MSP) model and Vendor Management Solutions (VMS) technology. Is your organization seeking a WBENC-certified diversity partner to provide measurable results and substantial cost savings?  Contact us today.