Equal Pay

California Equal Pay Lawyers

You show up, work hard, and deliver results, yet your paycheck does not seem to match the effort or value you bring. When coworkers doing substantially the same work earn more because of their sex, race, or ethnicity, that gap is not just unfair. It may be unlawful. Federal and California law require equal pay for substantially equal work, and understanding those protections can be the first step toward closing the gap.

The legal team at Olivier & Schreiber PC has extensive experience representing individuals in discrimination and pay equity matters, with a strong background in employment litigation. Our firm represents employees, never the companies that shortchange them, so your interests always remain the priority. Whether your situation calls for a candid case evaluation, a negotiated resolution, or full-scale litigation, our firm is positioned to advocate for a fair outcome that upholds your rights.

Clients We Assist

At Olivier & Schreiber PC, we help employees facing a wide range of situations relating to pay inequality, including those where:

• An employee discovered that newer hires are starting at higher salaries or hourly rates, even though they bring comparable or greater experience to the same role.
• An employee watched similar coworkers receive larger raises year after year, while their own pay adjustments quietly fell behind.
• An employee stepped into a promotion or took on higher-level responsibilities without the pay increase that comparable colleagues received.
• An employee’s base salary looked similar to those of their peers, yet they consistently earned less through bonuses, commissions, overtime opportunities, benefits, or other compensation.
• Women, coworkers of a particular race or ethnicity, or other protected groups repeatedly earned lower pay and smaller raises.
• An employee was told that a pay gap comes down to experience, performance, or seniority, when their own record and their comparison with coworkers do not support that explanation.

Once you become aware of these disparities, a clear understanding of your rights and a staunch legal advocate can help you address them.

Your Rights to Equal Pay

Federal and state law require equal pay for substantially equal work. In many industries, women have historically received lower pay for the same work, and both federal and state law prohibit this unequal treatment.

What California’s Equal Pay Act Requires

California’s Equal Pay Act prohibits an employer from paying any of its employees wage rates that are less than what it pays employees of the opposite sex, or of another race, or of another ethnicity, for substantially similar work. “Substantially similar work” refers to work that is mostly similar in skill, effort, and responsibility, and performed under similar working conditions.

Recognizing an Unlawful Pay Gap

Pay disparities rarely come with an explanation. An employer may point to experience, seniority, or performance to justify a difference, but those reasons must hold up against the facts of the situation. When your work history and your comparison with coworkers do not support the explanation you were given, the gap may just deserve a closer look.

How Olivier & Schreiber PC Guides You

Identifying pay discrimination and proving it can be difficult. The attorneys at Olivier & Schreiber PC evaluate the facts of your specific circumstances, explain your legal options in plain terms, gather the evidence needed to expose an unlawful disparity, and pursue the strongest path toward a fair resolution, whether that means a negotiated settlement or litigation.

Why Choose Our Firm?

Advocating for equal pay matters, and so does the representation you choose. Olivier & Schreiber PC is here to stand by your side, providing:

• Employee-Focused Advocacy
• Strong Employment Law and Litigation Background
• Individual and Class Action Capability
• Further Depth in Appellate Work
• Steadfast Commitment to Advancing Worker Rights

We are driven by a mission to move the law forward for employees, not merely to close a single case file.

You Do Not Have to Accept Unequal Pay

Fair pay for substantially equal work is not a favor; it is your right under both federal and California law. If you believe you have been paid less because of your sex, race, or ethnicity, or if you have otherwise experienced workplace discrimination, the experienced equal pay attorneys at Olivier & Schreiber PC are ready to help. Please do not delay in contacting our firm today to discuss your situation.

FAQs About Equal Pay in California