According to Federal law, it is illegal to discriminate against a person based on their sex or gender. This was very important legislation during the time of women’s suffrage and the feminist movement because it was these movements that brought about legislation like the amendment to the Fair Labor Standard’s Act, the Equal Pay Act.
The Equal Pay Act states that male and female employees who perform the same job, have the same responsibilities, the same seniority, the same skills, the same working environment and the same abilities should have the same pay. If a male or female employee can prove that their employer is not paying them the same amount as another, similar employee of the opposite sex, the employer must rectify the situation. Federal Law also states that the situation must be changed by raising the pay of the first employee and not by lowering the pay of the second employee.
