Equal Pay for Equal Work … Seems Fair, Right?
On Wednesday, April 16, 2014, Senate Republicans blocked-for the third time-the Paycheck Fairness Act, a bill proposing to close the pay gap between men and women. The goal of the bill-the attainment of equal pay for equal work-seems like a no-brainer, right? Women with the same job, and same qualifications, as men deserve to be paid the same. They should not discriminated against because of gender. It just seems obvious. However, not a single Republican Senator voted in favor of the Act. So right now the status quo continues, which yields women making about 77cents for every dollar men make.
Had it passed, the bill would have made it illegal for employers to retaliate against a worker who inquires about or discloses her or his wages or the wages of another employee in a complaint or investigation. And as part of this bill, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission would be required to collect pay information from employers.
What’s a girl to do??
Even though the Paycheck Fairness Act has stalled for now, there are still ways a woman who is underpaid for the same work a man is doing can prevail. The Equal Pay Act, enacted in 1963, provides a remedy for gender-based pay inequities. Also, women can bring a case for pay inequality as part of a gender discrimination
If you feel that you are being paid less for the same work as someone else due to your gender, call one of our Tennessee labor lawyers at The Higgins Firm.
Author Bio
Jim Higgins, founder of the Higgins Firm, is a seasoned personal injury attorney with deep roots in Nashville, Tennessee. A 4th generation Nashvillian, Jim carries on the legal legacy of his father, a judge for over 30 years. After graduating from the University of Memphis School of Law, Jim’s career began on the other side of the courtroom, defending insurance companies and learning their tactics for minimizing settlements. However, he soon realized his true calling was fighting for the rights of the injured, and for the past several years, he has exclusively represented plaintiffs in personal injury cases.
Since then, his dedication and skill have earned him membership in the prestigious Million Dollar Advocates Forum, an organization limited to attorneys who have secured million and multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements for their clients. Licensed to practice in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Georgia, Jim focuses on personal injury, product liability, medical malpractice, and workers’ compensation cases. His exceptional work has been recognized by his peers, earning him a spot on the Super Lawyers list from 2021 to 2024, a distinction awarded to only a select group of accomplished attorneys in each state.
