What is the law on equal pay?

What equal pay means. As set out in the Equality Act 2010, men and women in the same employment performing equal work must receive equal pay, unless any difference in pay can be justified. It is the law and employers must follow it.

Can you pay someone less for doing the same job?

It is legal for a company to pay different wages for the same or similar job, but only if there are non-discriminatory material factors which explain the reason for the difference.

What is forbidden by 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."

Is the Equal Pay Act 1970 still in force?

The Act was proposed by the then Labour government, and was based on the Equal Pay Act of 1963 of the United States. It has now been mostly superseded by Part 5, chapter 3, of the Equality Act 2010. An Act to prevent discrimination, as regards terms and conditions of employment, between men and women.

Is it illegal to pay a man more than a woman?

Although unequal pay is now illegal, the gender pay gap – the percentage difference between the average hourly earnings for men and women – persists.

Can 2 employees doing the same job be paid differently?

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.

What does unequal pay mean?

If a woman works the same hours, performs the same tasks, and is required to meet the same goals as her male counterpart, she is entitled to equal pay. When women are paid less because of their gender, it is a form of sex discrimination and is illegal. 1

Is the Equal Pay Act still in effect?

No, for decades now, the California Equal Pay Act has prohibited an employer from paying its employees less than employees of the opposite sex for equal work.

How does the Equal Pay Act 1970 protect employees?

The Equal Pay Act 1970 gives an individual a right to the same contractual pay and benefits as a person of the opposite sex in the same employment, where the man and the woman are doing: like work; or. work rated as equivalent under an analytical job evaluation study; or. work that is proved to be of equal value.

Can your boss tell you not to discuss salary?

In fact, employees' right to discuss their salary is protected by law. While employers may restrict workers from discussing their salary in front of customers or during work, they cannot prohibit employees from talking about pay on their own time.

Is it illegal to discuss wages with coworkers?

Can they legally prevent you from asking your deskmate about their salary and comparing it to your own? The short answer is no, they can't. Employees have the legal right to discuss pay if they choose to, and it's illegal for employers to ban those discussions.

Can 2 employees doing the same job be paid differently UK?

No it is not, and across England and Wales it is common for workers to do the same basic jobs, but receive a different wage. This difference in pay could be based on each employee's levels of skill and experience.

How do you address unequal payments?

Steps to take to address gender inequality

1. Do your research. Know what others are getting paid in the market similar to your position and save examples that can be used during discussions. ...
2. Bring it to your employer's attention. ...
3. Don't play the blame game. ...
4. If needed, escalate the situation. ...
5. Be willing to leave.

Are all staff members paid equally?

Not all differences in pay can be explained by legitimate factors such as seniority or locality adjustments. Sometimes people with the same job title who have worked for the same length of time and who carry out similar responsibilities may still find that they are paid different amounts.

What must an employee prove in an equal pay for work of equal value claim?

The principle of equal pay applies to work that is the same, substantially the same or of equal value (referred to as work of equal value), when compared to an appropriate actual comparator of the same employer.

Why is the Equal Pay Act important?

The Equal Pay Act of 1963, amending the Fair Labor Standards Act, protects against wage discrimination based on sex. The Equal Pay Act (EPA) protects both men and women.

What did the Equal Pay Act do UK?

What equal pay means. As set out in the Equality Act 2010, men and women in the same employment performing equal work must receive equal pay, unless any difference in pay can be justified. It is the law and employers must follow it.

Who enforces the Equal Pay Act?

Enforced by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the law applies to employers with 20 or more employees and to federal government, interstate agencies, employment agencies and labor unions.

How did the Equal Pay Act of 1963 come about?

The National War Labor Board first advocated equal pay for equal work in 1942, and an equal pay act was proposed in 1945. Eighteen years later, on June 10, 1963, President John F. Kennedy signed the Equal Pay Act into law.

Is there a gender pay gap?

Despite that, even with a higher educational level, women earn, on average, less than men do. Although the difference between men's and women's earnings has declined in recent years, in 2016 women still received the equivalent of 76.5% of men's earnings.

How do you deal with unfair pay at work?

In order to report unfair wages, an employee must first file a complaint with a state or federal government agency that oversees unfair wage matters, such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”). The agency that receives the complaint will then review the claim and open an investigation.

How do you ensure equal pay for equal work?

Here are five ways you can ensure equal pay on your team:

1. Prevent salary disparities before making new hires. ...
2. Review employee compensation on a regular basis. ...
3. Separate compensation reviews from performance reviews. ...
4. Disclose salary ranges for different positions and levels. ...
5. Advocate for your people.

How do I claim equal pay?

When a woman claims equal pay, she must compare her pay to a man who she believes is carrying out equal work but is being paid more for it, known as a 'comparator'. It is for the woman to select the man or men she wants to be compared with. She can also claim equal pay with more than one comparator.