Last week we filed a lawsuit in Federal Court under the Equal Pay Act of 1963 on behalf of our client alleging that her former employer, the University of Miami, failed to pay her the same wages as they paid men performing the same or similar work with similar responsibility and requiring similar skill and effort. Attached is a copy of the Complaint.
The Complaint alleges that the Plaintiff worked for the Athletic Department of the University for over 15 years, was promoted in the year 2000 and again promoted to the position of Director of Football Relations in the year 2008. However, as Director of Football Relations, she was paid significantly less than other male employees in comparable positions with similar responsibility and requiring similar skill and effort. Under the Equal Pay Act, men and women in the same workplace must be given equal pay for equal work. While the jobs do not need to be identical, the law requires that if the content of the job is similar or substantially equal, then the remuneration must also be the same. This includes all remuneration, including salary, overtime pay, bonuses, vacations, benefits, etc. The law also provides that if there is unequal pay, an employer must raise the amount it pays to women rather than reduce the salary and/or benefits paid to men.
In the lawsuit, we are alleging that the Plaintiff was paid as much as $39,500 less than men doing the same or similar work with similar responsibility and requiring similar skill and effort. The positions have different titles, but under the law, titles are not determinative; what is important is job content. As stated above, if the content of the job is similar or substantially equal, and the jobs have similar responsibility and require similar skill, then the remuneration must be the same for both men and women.
If you have any questions regarding inequality of pay between men and women and/or the Equal Pay Act, contact the Law Offices of Santiago J. Padilla, P.A. as soon as possible. Based in Miami, Florida, we represent employers and employees throughout South Florida in employment cases. To set up an initial consultation, you can contact us through the Internet or call us at (305) 358-1949.
