Wage Discrimination Lawsuit

Saying that “sex-based pay discrimination is an unlawful employment practice that will not be tolerated by the EEOC,” an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (”EEOC”) attorney announced filing of a wage discrimination lawsuit in which the federal agency alleges that a weight loss center violated federal law by paying two female employees less than a male employee who performed the same duties.  See, http://www.eeoc.gov/press/7-30-09b.html .  According to the EEOC Press Release, the two female employees worked in the position of director of franchise development and a male employee was hired and paid a significantly higher salary in his position as director of franchise development.  As stated in the Press Release, the EEOC’s investigation revealed that there was no significant difference between the duties performed by the male employee and the female employees.  Such alleged conduct violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, and the Equal Pay Act, which protects people against wage discrimination because of sex.  In this regard, the EEOC is a federal agency which enforces federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination and the EEOC filed suit after first attempting to reach a voluntary out of court settlement.  Further information about the EEOC is available in the agency’s website at www.eeoc.gov . 

Whether workplace pay discrimination occurs in Houston or elsewhere, victims of employment related wage bias may contact the EEOC and an attorney to determine if a wage discrimination lawsuit is ultimately appropriate under the particular circumstances and facts of the potential pay discrimination claim.