The Equal Pay Act of 1963

In 1963, President Kennedy passed an amendment to the Fair Labor Standards Act known as the Equal Pay Act.  This act was intended to improve pay disparity between men and women in the work force and make unequal compensation based on sexual discrimination illegal.  Because of the Equal Pay Act, all companies are required to adhere to certain regulations regarding the way they pay employees.

Information on the Equal Pay Act

Although it was originally designed to protect lower level employees, women began to gain higher positions in the work place and the same standards were applied to management jobs as well.  This amendment states that all employees of the same skill, position, and responsibility must be paid equally.  There are certain circumstances that may allow for higher compensation, although they are limited.  These include:

• Seniority scales
• Merit system
• Meeting quotas or other regulated standards

These are meant to offer companies a way to reward employees incentive for good work or acknowledge the time they have devoted to their job.  Failure to adhere to the Equal Pay Act is illegal and individuals or companies that unfairly pay men and women differently may face serious penalties.

Contact Us

If you or someone you love has been the victim of gender based discrimination in the workplace, there may be steps you can take to rectify the situation and hold the responsible party liable for their actions.  Contact the Houston employment attorneys of the Ross Law Group at 713-482-6910 to discuss your options with a member of our qualified legal team today.