The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has launched a social media video campaign called “Level the Paying Field,” in commemoration of the anniversary of the Equal Pay Act of 1963 on June 10. The campaign, which will run from June 9 to August 20, coincides with the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, set to begin on July 20 in Australia and New Zealand.
The objective of the campaign is to draw attention to the persistent issue of gender-based pay inequality that continues to affect women across the country. Whether you are a security guard, an IT analyst, a teacher, or even a professional athlete, there is still an uneven playing field when it comes to equal pay.
The Equal Pay Act of 1963 prohibits wage discrimination based on sex and mandates that men and women in the same work establishment receive equal pay for equal work in jobs that are substantially similar and performed under comparable working conditions. The EEOC is responsible for enforcing this Act, as well as other federal laws that prohibit discrimination against job applicants or employees based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age (40 or older), disability, or genetic information.
Despite the passage of the Equal Pay Act 60 years ago, gender-based pay discrimination remains a significant issue in the workforce. Each year, hundreds of pay discrimination charges are filed with the EEOC, with over 950 charges reported in 2022 alone. This marked the first increase in Equal Pay Act charges in three years. The hidden nature of pay discrimination and the lack of transparency regarding co-workers’ salaries contribute to the underreporting of such incidents. When workers do report pay discrimination to the EEOC, the agency has found evidence of unequal pay in various industries and sectors, including information technology, entertainment, construction, and retail.
If you’re in need of more information on equal pay and compensation disputes, contact the employment attorneys at Potomac Legal Group PLLC. Our lawyers are experts in employment law and pay disputes.
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