Pay Discrimination

1
Pay Discrimination

• The Male/Female Pay Gap
• - 1950s-1970s 59
• - 1999 74
• Possible Explanations for the Pay Gap
• 1. The Crowding Hypothesis
• 2. Institutional Barriers (a) access
  discrimination
• (b) Glass ceilings
• 3. Work-Family Conflicts (a) Inflexible work
  schedules (b)unfriendly family employment
  practices.
• 4. Job stereotyping

2
Pay Discrimination and Comparable Worth

• Relevant Laws (a) EPA (b) Title 7 CRA,
  disparate treatment (applies) disparate impact
  (rarely used)
• Key Court Cases
• 1. Lemons vs. City County of Denver (1980)
• 2. Gunther vs. City of Washington (1981)
• 3. AFSCME vs. State of Washington (1985)
• Comparable Worth Laws
• State laws in a few states (WA, MN, MI) covers
  public employees.
• Canada - Provincial laws for CW private ees

3
Comparable Worth

• Provisions of a Comparable Worth law
• 1. One JE plan used for ALL jobs. Same JE
  factors applied to each job. Exception Union
  contract
• 2. Each job classified by gender representation.
• a. Male dominated jobs Males gt 70
• b. Female Females gt 60
• 3. Match female male jobs according to JE
  points.
• 4. Where pay gaps, females raised to male pay
  level.
• 5. Equalize pay scales over 3-5 year period.
• 6. About 1 pay budget used to reduce inequities.