THE EQUAL PAY ACT - THE FIRST 30 YEARS

Historically, women have been paid less than men. This pay disparity b etween men and women exists even when women hold similar jobs and are comparable to men with regard to seniority and experience. The goal of the Equal Pay Act of 1963 and the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was to cha nge this situation. The Equal Pay Act states that men and women should receive the same pay for equal work. Three decades have passed but wo men's wages remain less than wages for men in equal positions. The foc us of this paper is a discussion of the Equal Pay Act on wage differen tials between men and women. Strategies will be presented that organiz ations can follow to minimize compensation disparities.