Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has taken a stand against workplace discrimination with the recent announcement of a settled lawsuit against Precision Tool & Construction Supply, Inc., a company accused of violating an employee's rights by suspending her without pay due to pregnancy. The case, rooted in a charge filed by a former worker in Tucson, Arizona, has culminated in a Consent Decree that holds the hardware retailer accountable under the Arizona Civil Rights Act, which protects employees and applicants from discrimination on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions.
"Pregnant women can be especially vulnerable to discrimination and firings in the workplace. Please know that my office will step in to enforce state laws that protect pregnant workers, and ensure their equal opportunity to work free from discrimination to support their families, when needed," Mayes declared, showing her commitment as the first mom to helm the Attorney General's role in Arizona. The official statement from the Attorney General's Office cited an unsettling testimonial from a former co-owner of Precision, who admitted they would have rejected the employee’s hire had they known about her pregnancy.
The Consent Decree outlines specific corrective measures for Precision: compensating the aggrieved former employee with $30,000, revising company policies to clearly forbid discrimination, and implementing training programs on state and federal laws addressing pregnancy bias. Additionally, Precision will be subject to up to four years of oversight by the Civil Rights Division to ensure adherence to the agreement.
Handling the lawsuit was a team effort involving Assistant Attorneys General Ryan Bishop and Tarah White, backed by paralegal Frankie Hensley and Compliance Officer Anne Bali, who spearheaded the investigation. Arizona's Civil Rights Division embodies a commitment to enforce civil rights law, educate the public, provide dispute mediation, and extend community services across the state. Individuals who believe they've experienced discrimination can reach out to the Attorney General's Office via phone at (602) 542-5263 or submit an intake questionnaire online.
