Most of the wage discrimination claims that are based on gender are filed by women. However, workers in California should also know that the some cases are filed by men. This is according to published and unpublished charge filing data from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
There are federal laws that prohibit employment discrimination and are the basis for which wage discrimination charges are filed. Most of the charges are filed under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Individuals can file claims that allege wage discrimination based on religion, race, national origin and gender. Wage discrimination charges based on one’s gender are filed under the Equal Pay Act as well. Almost 20 percent of wage discrimination charges pertain to age-related wage discrimination. A smaller percentage of charges claim wage discrimination based on one’s disability.
The EEOC data indicates that workers can be subjected to wage discrimination to a number of ways. This is an important observation as individuals who are against increasing equal pay protections and who ignore equal pay considerations assert that wage discrimination pertains only to women’s choices.
However, the data shows otherwise. Many different groups of workers experience disparities in their pay. Workers of certain races or age groups, who have disabilities or belong to other segments of the population are affected by stereotypes that cause their work to be undervalued, which in turn causes them to be paid less. This can have a significant negative impact on the finances of working families.
Individuals who have experienced any form of workplace discrimination or harassment should consult an employment law attorney about their legal options. The attorney may file a claim with the proper federal agencies for compensation for acts of discrimination based on a client’s age, religion, gender or disability status.
