Employment discrimination

Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009

hmoroz — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 10:52:13 -0500

Legislation

The middle class

Supports

Video Summary

Injustice Facts

Year in which Ledbetter received a “Top Performance” award from the company: 1996

Amount Lilly Ledbetter was paid per month in 1997, the last full year she worked for Goodyear Tire Co.: $3,727

Amount the lowest paid of the 15 men doing similar work for the company was paid per month in 1997: $4,286

Median annual earnings for U.S. full-time, year-round, male workers in 2006: $42,261

Median annual earnings for U.S. full-time, year-round, female workers in 2006: $32,515

Overview/Summary

Middle Class Position Analysis

The Middle Class Supports. Current and aspiring middle-class Americans need the protection of strong anti-discrimination laws to ensure that they are treated fairly by employers. But the mere existence of these laws is not sufficient: the practical ability to enforce them in a meaningful way is crucial. By clarifying a technicality in employment discrimination law, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act deters discriminatory practices in the workplace and ensures that when discrimination does occur, wronged employees can receive fair compensation.

This legislation clarifies that employment discrimination law should be interpreted the way courts have traditionally understood it – until the Supreme Court ruled in favor of a more restrictive interpretation in the 2007 Ledbetter V. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. decision. In this case, the Court ruled that plaintiff Lilly Ledbetter was not eligible for compensation despite years of being paid far less than her male peers and even some male subordinates. According the Court, unlawful discrimination had occurred only when her employer first set the discriminatory pay rate, even though Ledbetter had no way of knowing about it until years later. Under this ruling, since Ledbetter’s employer was able to conceal the discrimination for years and she did not find out about the discrimination until it was too late to file a complaint (within 180 days of the first discriminatory paycheck, according to the Court), she had no legal recourse. By reaffirming that a fresh discrimination offense occurs each time an individual is impacted by a discriminatory practice, including each paycheck that includes unfair compensation, this legislation effectively reverses the Supreme Court’s harmful decision and ensures that people subjected to discrimination in the future will continue to have effective recourse to the law.

Quotes from Experts

Beyond this Bill

Additional Resources

Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. with links to the majority opinion and dissent

The National Committee on Pay Equity

“Signing Off on Discrimination” from the Center for American Progress

Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009

hmoroz — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 10:52:13 -0500

Legislation

The middle class

Supports

Video Summary

Injustice Facts

Year in which Ledbetter received a “Top Performance” award from the company: 1996

Amount Lilly Ledbetter was paid per month in 1997, the last full year she worked for Goodyear Tire Co.: $3,727

Amount the lowest paid of the 15 men doing similar work for the company was paid per month in 1997: $4,286

Median annual earnings for U.S. full-time, year-round, male workers in 2006: $42,261

Median annual earnings for U.S. full-time, year-round, female workers in 2006: $32,515

Overview/Summary

Middle Class Position Analysis

Quotes from Experts

Beyond this Bill

Additional Resources

Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. with links to the majority opinion and dissent

The National Committee on Pay Equity

“Signing Off on Discrimination” from the Center for American Progress

Paycheck Fairness Act of 2009

atraub — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 17:38:53 -0500

Legislation

The middle class

Supports

Video Summary

Injustice Facts

Median income of a white man working a fulltime job for 50 weeks or more in 2006: $48,420

Median income of a black woman working a fulltime job for 50 weeks or more in 2006: $30,352

Median income of a Hispanic woman working a fulltime job for 50 weeks or more in 2006: $25,198

Percentage of pay gap between men and women college graduates that remains unaccounted for after all other factors are taken into account besides discrimination one year after college graduation: 5

Percentage of pay gap between men and women college graduates that remains unaccounted for after all other factors are taken into account besides discrimination ten years after graduation: 12

Percentage of median weekly wages of male physicians earned by women physicians in 2006: 72%

Overview/Summary

Middle Class Position Analysis

The Middle Class Supports. Despite improvement in compensation disparity between men and women since the passage of the Equal Pay Act in 1963, the wage gap still persists. Women make approximately 77 cents for every dollar earned by a man. In 2006, the median income of men was $42,261 while that of women was only $32,515. The disparity is even greater for minority women. A recent report by the American Association of University Women found that discrimination is a significant factor contributing to the pay gap between men and women. Further, American households increasingly rely on a woman’s paycheck to make ends meet: the median contribution of a woman to her household was 35.1% of the total in 2005. Legislation to end discriminatory pay practices is necessary to ensure that aspiring middle-class and middle-class Americans do not lose wages that are necessary to afford the health insurance, college education, and everyday necessities that compose a middle-class standard of living. The Paycheck Fairness Act will allow employees to seek redress from wage discrimination more easily, while protecting them from employer retaliation. Allowing employees to seek compensatory and punitive damages provides both the best means to compensate employees who have been discriminated against and a powerful incentive for employers not to discriminate based on gender in the first place.

Finally, collecting more information from employers about wage rates will allow citizen groups, non-profit organizations, and public agencies refine statistics on the pay gap and develop more effective policies to eliminate it.

Quotes from Experts

Beyond this Bill

Additional Resources

Sex-Based Discrimination, from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

"Women in the Labor Force: A Databook," from the Bureau of Labor Statistics

Behind the Pay Gap, from the American Association of University Women

Paycheck Fairness Act of 2009

atraub — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 17:38:53 -0500

Legislation

The middle class

Supports

Video Summary

Injustice Facts

Median income of a white man working a fulltime job for 50 weeks or more in 2006: $48,420

Median income of a black woman working a fulltime job for 50 weeks or more in 2006: $30,352

Median income of a Hispanic woman working a fulltime job for 50 weeks or more in 2006: $25,198

Percentage of pay gap between men and women college graduates that remains unaccounted for after all other factors are taken into account besides discrimination one year after college graduation: 5

Percentage of pay gap between men and women college graduates that remains unaccounted for after all other factors are taken into account besides discrimination ten years after graduation: 12

Percentage of median weekly wages of male physicians earned by women physicians in 2006: 72%

Overview/Summary

Middle Class Position Analysis

Quotes from Experts

Beyond this Bill

Additional Resources

Sex-Based Discrimination, from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

"Women in the Labor Force: A Databook," from the Bureau of Labor Statistics

Behind the Pay Gap, from the American Association of University Women

Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009 - House Version

atraub — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 16:54:29 -0500

Legislation

The middle class

Supports

Video Summary

Injustice Facts

Year in which Ledbetter received a “Top Performance” award from the company: 1996

Amount Lilly Ledbetter was paid per month in 1997, the last full year she worked for Goodyear Tire Co.: $3,727

Amount the lowest paid of the 15 men doing similar work for the company was paid per month in 1997: $4,286

Median annual earnings for U.S. full-time, year-round, male workers in 2006: $42,261

Median annual earnings for U.S. full-time, year-round, female workers in 2006: $32,515

Overview/Summary

Middle Class Position Analysis

Quotes from Experts

Beyond this Bill

Additional Resources

Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. with links to the majority opinion and dissent

The National Committee on Pay Equity

“Signing Off on Discrimination” from the Center for American Progress

Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009 - House Version

atraub — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 16:54:29 -0500

Legislation

The middle class

Supports

Video Summary

Injustice Facts

Year in which Ledbetter received a “Top Performance” award from the company: 1996

Amount Lilly Ledbetter was paid per month in 1997, the last full year she worked for Goodyear Tire Co.: $3,727

Amount the lowest paid of the 15 men doing similar work for the company was paid per month in 1997: $4,286

Median annual earnings for U.S. full-time, year-round, male workers in 2006: $42,261

Median annual earnings for U.S. full-time, year-round, female workers in 2006: $32,515

Overview/Summary

Middle Class Position Analysis

Quotes from Experts

Beyond this Bill

Additional Resources

Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. with links to the majority opinion and dissent

The National Committee on Pay Equity

“Signing Off on Discrimination” from the Center for American Progress

Paycheck Fairness Act of 2008

hmoroz — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 13:07:29 -0400

Legislation

The middle class

Supports

Video Summary

Injustice Facts

Median income of a white man working a fulltime job for 50 weeks or more in 2006: $48,420

Median income of a black woman working a fulltime job for 50 weeks or more in 2006: $30,352

Median income of a Hispanic woman working a fulltime job for 50 weeks or more in 2006: $25,198

Percentage of pay gap between men and women college graduates that remains unaccounted for after all other factors are taken into account besides discrimination one year after college graduation: 5

Percentage of pay gap between men and women college graduates that remains unaccounted for after all other factors are taken into account besides discrimination ten years after graduation: 12

Percentage of median weekly wages of male physicians earned by women physicians in 2006: 72%

Overview/Summary

Middle Class Position Analysis

Middle Class Supports. Despite improvement in compensation disparity between men and women since the passage of the Equal Pay Act in 1963, the wage gap still persists. Women make approximately 77 cents for every dollar earned by a man. In 2006, the median income of men was $42,261 while that of women was only $32,515. The disparity is even greater for minority women. A recent report by the American Association of University Women found that discrimination is a significant factor contributing to the pay gap between men and women. Further, American households increasingly rely on a woman’s paycheck to make ends meet: the median contribution of a woman to her household was 35.1% of the total in 2005. Legislation to end discriminatory pay practices is necessary to ensure that aspiring middle-class and middle-class Americans do not lose wages that are necessary to afford the health insurance, college education, and everyday necessities that compose a middle-class standard of living. The Paycheck Fairness Act will allow employees to seek redress from wage discrimination more easily, while protecting them from employer retaliation. Allowing employees to seek compensatory and punitive damages provides both the best means to compensate employees who have been discriminated against and a powerful incentive for employers not to discriminate based on gender in the first place.

Quotes from Experts

Beyond this Bill

Additional Resources

Sex-Based Discrimination, from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

"Women in the Labor Force: A Databook," from the Bureau of Labor Statistics

Behind the Pay Gap, from the American Association of University Women

Paycheck Fairness Act of 2008

hmoroz — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 13:07:29 -0400

Legislation

The middle class

Supports

Video Summary

Injustice Facts

Median income of a white man working a fulltime job for 50 weeks or more in 2006: $48,420

Median income of a black woman working a fulltime job for 50 weeks or more in 2006: $30,352

Median income of a Hispanic woman working a fulltime job for 50 weeks or more in 2006: $25,198

Percentage of pay gap between men and women college graduates that remains unaccounted for after all other factors are taken into account besides discrimination one year after college graduation: 5

Percentage of pay gap between men and women college graduates that remains unaccounted for after all other factors are taken into account besides discrimination ten years after graduation: 12

Percentage of median weekly wages of male physicians earned by women physicians in 2006: 72%

Overview/Summary

Middle Class Position Analysis

Quotes from Experts

Beyond this Bill

Additional Resources

Sex-Based Discrimination, from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

"Women in the Labor Force: A Databook," from the Bureau of Labor Statistics

Behind the Pay Gap, from the American Association of University Women

Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008

hmoroz — Wed, 07 May 2008 13:53:02 -0400

Legislation

The middle class

Supports

Video Summary

Injustice Facts

Projected cost of sequencing the complete genome of an individual within the next ten years, in dollars: 1,000

Total cost of the 13-year Human Genome Project, including studies of human diseases and experimental organisms, development of new technologies for biological and medical research, and other scientific activities, in dollars: 3 billion

Percentage of cancer genetics specialists who would not bill their own insurance company for colon, breast, or ovarian cancer genetic testing due to fear of genetic discrimination: 68

Percentage of Americans who are concerned that results from a genetic test that can tell patients whether they are at increased risk for a disease like cancer could be used in ways that would be harmful to them: 90

Overview/Summary

Middle Class Position Analysis

Middle Class Supports. Although cases of discrimination based on genetic testing are rare, as genetic testing becomes more widespread the risk that middle-class Americans who depend on health insurance could be denied insurance coverage or be terminated from a job solely for being at genetic risk for a disease is troubling. The legislation will facilitate the individualized approaches to health care that mapping the genome has made possible. Additionally, the bill would bolster popular support for genetic research by alleviating Americans’ fears of discrimination. Limiting the act’s prohibitions to use by employers and insurance companies would not stifle innovation in genetic research.

Quotes from Experts

Beyond this Bill

Additional Resources

Genetic Discrimination Resource Site, from the National Human Genome Research Institute at the National Institutes of Health

Dr. Francis Collins on the Threat of Genetic Discrimination to the Promise of Personalized Medicine

Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008

hmoroz — Wed, 07 May 2008 13:53:02 -0400

Legislation

The middle class

Supports

Video Summary

Injustice Facts

Projected cost of sequencing the complete genome of an individual within the next ten years, in dollars: 1,000

Percentage of cancer genetics specialists who would not bill their own insurance company for colon, breast, or ovarian cancer genetic testing due to fear of genetic discrimination: 68

Overview/Summary

Middle Class Position Analysis

Quotes from Experts

Beyond this Bill

Additional Resources

Genetic Discrimination Resource Site, from the National Human Genome Research Institute at the National Institutes of Health

Dr. Francis Collins on the Threat of Genetic Discrimination to the Promise of Personalized Medicine

Employment discrimination

Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009

Legislation

The middle class

Video Summary

Injustice Facts

Overview/Summary

Middle Class Position Analysis

Related Blog: Header

Quotes from Experts

Related Blog: Text

Beyond this Bill

Related Blog: Link

Additional Resources

Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009

Legislation

The middle class

Video Summary

Injustice Facts

Overview/Summary

Middle Class Position Analysis

Related Blog: Header

Quotes from Experts

Related Blog: Text

Beyond this Bill

Related Blog: Link

Additional Resources

Paycheck Fairness Act of 2009

Legislation

The middle class

Video Summary

Injustice Facts

Overview/Summary

Middle Class Position Analysis

Related Blog: Header

Quotes from Experts

Related Blog: Text

Beyond this Bill

Related Blog: Link

Additional Resources

Paycheck Fairness Act of 2009

Legislation

The middle class

Video Summary

Injustice Facts

Overview/Summary

Middle Class Position Analysis

Related Blog: Header

Quotes from Experts

Related Blog: Text

Beyond this Bill

Related Blog: Link

Additional Resources

Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009 - House Version

Legislation

The middle class

Video Summary

Injustice Facts

Overview/Summary

Middle Class Position Analysis

Related Blog: Header

Quotes from Experts

Related Blog: Text

Beyond this Bill

Related Blog: Link

Additional Resources

Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009 - House Version

Legislation

The middle class

Video Summary

Injustice Facts

Overview/Summary

Middle Class Position Analysis

Related Blog: Header

Quotes from Experts

Related Blog: Text

Beyond this Bill

Related Blog: Link

Additional Resources

Paycheck Fairness Act of 2008