Arkansas has included several civil rights statutes in their labor laws which further protect employees in both public and private occupations beyond the basics of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. There are, however, additional guidelines for discrimination cases in the state:
- Public employees are prohibited from filing private lawsuits; however, private employees are not
- Public employees are prohibited from recovering attorney’s fees from a defendant; however, private employees are not
- Arkansas Statute of limitations is 2 years for a lawsuit concerning wrongful termination
Filing a Claim for Wrongful Termination
The state or local offices of the EEOC are equipped to handle claims for wrongful termination. They will pursue those claims by:
- Investigation
- Mediation/Conciliation
- When appropriate, filing a lawsuit
If, however, they cannot reach a satisfactory resolution or justify filing a lawsuit after 180 days, individuals in private positions may pursue their own remedies.
Legal Remedies for Wrongful Termination
There are a number of possible legal remedies that a victim of wrongful termination may pursue, either through their EEOC claim, mediation, or a lawsuit:
- Reinstatement
- Back pay
- Compensation for stress and suffering
- Punitive damages to prevent further abuses by the employer
- Mandated policy changes to protect other employees in that company
Arkansas provides for some specific remedies in the following areas:
- Jury duty – class A misdemeanor conviction and fines of up to $1,000
- Child support and health care garnishment – contempt of court fines of up to $50 per day.
- Whistleblower – can file civil suits within a year of the violation
Local Resources
Equal Employment Opportunity
Little Rock Area Office
- 820 Louisiana Street
- Suite 200
- Little Rock, AR 72201
- 501-324-5060 or
- 800-669-4000
- TTY: 501-324-5481 or
- 800-669-6820
- FAX: 501-324-5991
- www.eeoc.gov/littlerock/index.html