Equal Pay Lawyers Napa County

Equal Pay Lawyers Napa County

Both federal and state laws require employers to pay employees who perform substantially the same work equal pay. In other words, the law is not interested in an employer’s motivation for paying less – equal work requires equal pay even if the discrepancy is not based on discrimination of some kind, which it often is. If you believe you are being paid less than other employees for the work you do, don’t wait to discuss your claim with an experienced equal pay lawyer in Napa County. 

Substantially Similar Work

In order for state or federal equal pay laws to apply, you must be doing substantially similar work. This does not mean that you need to hold the same job or have the same job title but, instead, means that you do similar work to which all the following apply:

• You are working at an equal skill level.
• You are exerting similar effort.
• You have the same level of responsibility. 
• You perform your job under similar work conditions.

If your job is similar with respect to each of these, it may not matter that you’re not performing the exact same job as another employee in order for equal pay laws to apply.

You Cannot Be Paid Less as a Result of Being in a Protected Class

Your employer cannot pay you less in response to you being a member of a protected class. When it comes to claims of unequal pay, these classes tend to include the following:

• Sex, which refers to your biological sex
• Gender, which relates to your gender identity or expression – you can’t be paid less because you don’t conform to gender norms
• Race, skin color, ethnicity, country of origin, or religion

Pursuing an Equal Pay Claim

In order to prevail with an equal pay claim, you’ll need to demonstrate that you’re doing substantially similar work as another employee – or other employees – but are being paid less for that work. If the price differential is based on your inclusion in a protected class, this will also be addressed. Once you establish that your employer pays you less, it signals your employer’s opportunity to prove they have a legitimate reason for doing so.

When Employers Have a Legitimate Reason for Paying less

Employers sometimes have legally valid reasons for paying one employee less than another that does substantially similar work, which can – within certain limitations – include the following:

• The pay is based on merit.
• The pay is based on seniority.
• The pay is based on the quantity of production.
• The pay is based on the quality of production.
• The pay is based on the employee’s education, training, or experience.

Seek the Legal Guidance of an Experienced Equal Pay Lawyer in Napa County Today

The seasoned Equal Pay Lawyers at Olivier & Schreiber P.C. in Napa County recognize how detrimental earning unequal pay can be and dedicate their practice to upholding the rights of those affected. We’re here to help, so please don’t hesitate to contact us for more information today.