What is forbidden by the Equal Pay Act?

Under the Equal Pay Act, as amended effective January 1, 2019, an employer may not justify any pay difference between employees of the opposite sex, or employees of different race or ethnicity based on an employee’s prior salary.

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What is an example of the Equal Pay Act?

The Equal Pay Act (EPA) protects both men and women. All forms of compensation are covered, including salary, overtime pay, bonuses, life insurance, vacation and holiday pay, cleaning or gasoline allowances, hotel accommodations, reimbursement for travel expenses, and benefits.

What is the Equal Pay Act in simple terms?

The Equal Pay Act requires that men and women in the same workplace be given equal pay for equal work. The jobs need not be identical, but they must be substantially equal. Job content (not job titles) determines whether jobs are substantially equal.

Is it illegal to pay someone different for the same job?

By law, men and women must get equal pay for doing ‘equal work’ (work that equal pay law classes as the same, similar, equivalent or of equal value). This means someone must not get less pay compared to someone who is both: the opposite sex. doing equal work for the same employer.

Does equal pay apply to race?

The Act seeks to end wage discrimination against those who work in female- or minority-dominated jobs by establishing equal pay for equivalent work; it prohibits wage discrimination based on sex, race, or national origin.

What is the purpose of the Equal Pay Act?

To prohibit discrimination on account of sex in the payment of wages by employers engaged in commerce or in the production of goods for commerce. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That this Act may be cited as the “Equal Pay Act of 1963.”

Can my employer pay me less than the others in my same job?

Equal pay and other forms of discrimination By law, employers must not pay an employee less, or give them terms and conditions that put them at a disadvantage, because of their disability, race, religion, sexual orientation or another ‘protected characteristic’.

What do you do when a coworker makes more than you?

What to Do If You Find Out Your Co-worker Earns a Higher Salary

ASSESS THE SITUATION. It’s only human to feel frustrated after hearing someone you consider an equal earns more than you.
DO YOUR RESEARCH. If you know that you and your co-worker are similar on paper, do some fact-finding.
TALK TO YOUR MANAGER.

What do you do if you suspect unequal pay?

File a complaint with a government agency or a lawsuit in court. If you reported the pay discrimination to your employer and they have not fixed it, or if you choose not to pursue the matter internally, you can file a complaint with the EEOC or your state’s enforcement agency. (File a complaint in California.)

How can we fix the gender pay gap?

Strategies for narrowing the gender pay gap

Raise the minimum wage.
Increase pay transparency.
Unionize workplaces.
Implement fair scheduling practices.
Expand paid family and medical leave.
Increase access to child care.
Stop basing employee pay on salary history.
Improve work-life balance.

Should one employee be paid more than another if they are doing a similar job?

Employers are required to pay employees the same wages if they work similar jobs at different locations within the same county (e.g., if there is more than one business branch). Employees being discriminated against will receive significant money in damages if the employer is found guilty.

Should I be paid the same as my colleague?

In most instances, people doing the same or similar job, or work of equal value, should get equal pay, regardless of their gender. That said, there are still cases where people are paid differently for the same or equivalent work, even though the law says they should be paid the same.

How can the equal pay Act be improved?

There are specific policy solutions that policymakers can pursue to strengthen equal pay protections, including: Promoting greater pay transparency so that employees have the information they need. Requiring pay disclosure by employers to promote greater accountability.