Paycheck Fairness Act: Stronger protections against sex-based wage discrimination.
This Act strengthens equal pay laws by expanding the definition of 'sex' to include sexual orientation and gender identity, and by providing victims of wage discrimination with more effective remedies. It prohibits employers from relying on a prospective employee's salary history and mandates greater transparency and data collection on pay disparities. Citizens gain enhanced legal tools and protections to ensure fair compensation regardless of sex.
Key points
Enhanced Penalties: Employees can seek compensatory and punitive damages for sex-based wage discrimination, increasing the financial risk for non-compliant employers.
Salary History Ban: Employers are prohibited from asking about or relying on a job applicant's past wage history when setting new compensation, aiming to break cycles of pay inequality.
Pay Transparency: Employers cannot retaliate against employees for discussing or disclosing their own wages or the wages of other employees.
Expanded Definition of Sex: Protection against wage discrimination is broadened to include pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, and intersex traits.
Easier Class Actions: The Act allows for class action lawsuits to be maintained under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure for equal pay violations.
Introduced
Citizen Poll