In Hamilton Township, as in jurisdictions governed by New Jersey statutes and federal laws like Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Equal Pay Act of 1963, gender-based wage discrimination stands as a prohibited practice. Despite the legal safeguards in place, disparities in compensation persist across the United States, notably affecting women.
Research from the Pew Research Center in 2015 revealed that women earned only 83% of what men did for similar work hours. While this figure marks an improvement from 1980, when women earned just 67% of men’s wages, the United States Census Bureau reports a narrower gap, with women earning 80% of men’s wages among full-time, year-round employees.
Women and Promotion
For women aged 25 to 34, the wage gap slightly contracts, yet they still earn only 90% of what their male counterparts do, indicating persistent challenges in achieving pay parity across different age groups. Furthermore, despite dominating fields such as childcare, women still receive approximately 95% of men’s compensation for similar roles, necessitating an additional 44 days of work per year to match men’s earnings.
Promotion pathways for women, as highlighted by UrbanMinistry.org, often prove longer, impacting their earning trajectories. In sectors like education, female school principals typically accrue three more years of teaching experience before promotion compared to their male counterparts. Factors contributing to this disparity include women’s more frequent career breaks or reduced work hours due to family care responsibilities or childbirth, affecting the professional advancement of women in Hamilton Township and beyond.
The Equal Pay Act
The Equal Pay Act of 1963 serves as a crucial legal instrument in ensuring wage equality. Emphasizing task similarity over job titles, the Act mandates equal pay for substantially similar job duties. Notably, it allows employees to address grievances directly in federal or state courts, bypassing initial complaints to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Importantly, the Act prohibits rectifying pay discrepancies by reducing the wages of higher-paid employees.
Historically, justifications for unequal pay included higher turnover rates among working women, legal restrictions, and societal biases prevalent in the 1950s, where the norm involved a household with a stay-at-home wife and a working husband. However, women’s earnings were often dismissed as non-essential for household survival.
New Jersey and the New Equal Pay Act
In Hamilton Township, as across New Jersey, the Diane B. Allen Equal Pay Act, integrated into the Law Against Discrimination, represents a significant legislative stride against employment discrimination and pay inequity. Passed in 2018, the Act prohibits paying members of protected classes less than non-members for similar work, while permitting legitimate pay differences based on merit or seniority.
The Act further mandates compensation for affected workers for up to six years for any biased pay practices and allows courts to impose treble damages for violations. Moreover, it protects employees from retaliation for discussing compensation matters and enforces treble damages for any attempt to prevent such discussions.
Championed by Assemblywoman Pamela Lampitt, among others, the Diane B. Allen Equal Pay Act positions New Jersey at the forefront of ensuring workplace equality and justice, underscoring the state’s commitment to fair compensation practices in Hamilton Township and across its jurisdictions.
Contact Our Experienced New Jersey Equal Pay Attorneys
For individuals navigating equal pay disputes in Hamilton Township and beyond, Castronovo & McKinney, LLC offers dedicated legal representation and advocacy. With a deep understanding of equal pay laws and a commitment to client interests, our legal team stands ready to assess cases and pursue justice for those unfairly compensated in the workplace.