According to the National Partnership for Women and Families, women earn on average 82 cents for every dollar a man makes. While the gender pay gap is often discussed, what can women do about it? While it has been illegal since 1963 to pay women unequal pay for equal work, the gender wage gap still exists. Why would the gender wage gap still exist despite laws to prevent it from taking place? For one, there are several defenses against unequal pay that employers can claim if they are being accused of wage discrimination. According to the American Bar Association, if an employer has a seniority system in place, a merit system, a system that evaluates each worker for his or her production capability, or a system that evaluates workers for any other standard other than gender, or sex, then an employer can claim that pay differences are not based on gender.
Congress recently passed the Paycheck Fairness Act, a new law that can also give women additional avenues for fighting wage discrimination. Under the act, employers are not permitted to ask applicants how much money they made at their previous job and employers are not permitted to retaliate against workers who share wage information. These two provisions create important protections for women. How? If an employer bases a new worker’s wages based on how much she earned at her prior job, the gender pay gap can persist across jobs, pigeonholing women workers into a lower income bracket. The elimination of this question from the interview process can protect women workers. If you have been asked how much you made at your previous job, this is illegal. If you believe you were denied a job because you refused to answer this question, consider reaching out to Moore & Associates, gender discrimination lawyers in Houston, Texas.
One way that women can learn about whether there is a gender pay gap in their workplace is by asking other workers what they are paid. If an employer retaliates against employees for sharing this information, workers may be less likely to share this important information with one another. If you believe you suffered retaliation from your employer for revealing your salary and wages to another worker, or if you are facing retaliation because you asked other workers this question, Moore & Associates are gender discrimination lawyers in Houston, Texas who may be able to support you. Furthermore, if you learned that you are not being paid equally to male counterparts when you asked this question, Moore & Associates may be able to help you seek equal pay and compensation for unequal wages.
Finally, the Paycheck Fairness Act creates stronger penalties for companies that don’t pay workers equal wages for equal work. The act also requires employers to justify the data when data suggests that women are being paid less for equal work. Overall, the act should help give women workers more tools to fight gender discrimination on the job.
Think you have been the victim of gender discrimination in the workplace? Moore & Associates are gender discrimination lawyers in Houston, Texas who may be able to assist you with your case. Contact us today to learn more.
What to Do If You Believe You Are Being Paid Unfairly or Unequally
What can you do if you believe you are not being paid fairly compared to male counterparts at your job? What actions can you take? First of all, gather evidence supporting why you think you are being paid unequally for equal work. This can be e-mails, pay stubs, or any other evidence you might have. Your first option might be to go to your company’s human resources with this evidence. Human resources may be able to clarify the matter or correct the situation. But what happens if this doesn’t work? Consider speaking to a gender discrimination lawyer in Houston, Texas. Moore & Associates are gender discrimination lawyers who may be able to help you seek damages if you have not be paid equally to your male counterparts on the job. There have been many women in recent months who have been able to bring forth successful unequal pay gender discrimination lawsuits against their employers. If you think you may have a case, consider speaking to Moore & Associates today.
Fighting Gender Discrimination and Unequal Pay in Houston, Texas
Moore & Associates are Houston, Texas gender discrimination lawyers who work closely with workers who believe they have not been paid equal wages to their male counterparts. If you have reason to believe that your wages do not match male employees performing similar work at your place of employment, consider speaking to Moore & Associates today. Our lawyers can review your case, help you understand whether you have a claim, and assist you with the next steps.
