The Illinois Equal Pay Act

 Posted on January 12, 2013 in Employment Discrimination

The Illinois Equal Pay Act, according to the Illinois Department of Labor, “prohibits employers with four or more employees from paying unequal wages to men and women for doing the same or substantially similar work.” The only provision to the law is if the wage difference is based upon a merit, seniority system, or a system measuring earnings by factors other than gender. Any employers found to be in violation of this law are not only responsible to make up the wage difference, but are also subject to civil fines and the payment of legal costs. The law was passed in 2003 and went into effect on January 1, 2004.

If you feel that you may be eligible for compensation because of unequal pay practices, the first step is to contact an experienced Illinois fair labor attorney. It’s a complicated process, and the money you save by not hiring an attorney could be lost in compensation. Official documents can and should, however, be perused first and can be found here. Complaints can also be registered with the Illinois Department of Human Rights.

According to Forbes, women consistently 20 percent less than men, but it may not all be to unfair labor practices. The pay gap, according to Forbes, “reflects the fact that women tend to work in different kinds of occupations and industries than men, a phenomenon known as ‘gender segregation.’” The fact that women also tend to take on different (and often more) responsibilities at home also needs to be taken into consideration, as is the fact that women tend to leave the workforce for significant periods of time before returning.

These factors may contribute to the pay gap, but if gender discrimination in the labor force weren’t an issue, there wouldn’t be laws against it. If you or someone you know feels as if she has been discriminated against, don’t go through it alone. Contact a dedicated Illinois fair labor attorney today.

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