Equal Pay Act: Key Compliance Issues

The Equal Pay Act (EPA) is a federal law that targets wage disparities between men and women by requiring employers to pay male and female employees equal wages for equal work. Congress passed the EPA as an amendment to the minimum wage requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Because the EPA preceded the passage of Title VII of the Civil Rights of 1964 (Title VII) by one year and amended the FLSA, the EPA adopts many of the FLSA's procedural mechanisms. Though the EPA and Title VII overlap in some respects, the EPA is significantly narrower than Title VII in addressing gender discrimination. This practice note will help you advise employers on how to comply with the EPA and avoid potential EPA claims.