Prohibits differential pay because of sex

This bill would enact part of the New York Women's Agenda, which would break down barriers that perpetuate discrimination and inequality based on gender. New York State has a proud history and tradition of leading the nation in progressive ideals and reforms This is especially so with respect to women's rights in 1843, the women's suffrage movement was born at the first Women's Rights Convention in Seneca Falls, New York. From that moment in time and continuing through today, the state has been the home of female leaders and visionaries, from Elizabeth Cady Stanton who initiated the first organized women's rights and women's suffrage movements, to Audre Lorde, a leading African-American poet and essayist who gave voice to women's issues, and Gloria Steinem, the journalist, author and activist. These New Yorkers have served as role models for not only their generation but for every generation to come.

Over the years, New York has fallen behind in its role as a progressive leader on women's rights. Today, statistics clearly show that women in New York State are not treated equally to men. Study after study shows gender inequality in our communities where women are paid less than men for the same work, women face discrimination in the workplace based on familial status and pregnancy, and women face discrimination in housing because of their domestic violence victim status.

The New York Women's Agenda will break down barriers that perpetuate discrimination and inequality based on gender. New York has served as a model for equality and fairness on several issues including women's rights. The New York Women's Agenda will return the State to its rightful place as a leader on women's equality.

Summary of Bills:

1) Pay Equity

This bill would amend Labor L § 194, which prohibits a differential in rate of pay because of sex, to replace the current "any other factor other than sex" exception with an exception that requires that the differential in rate of pay he based on a bona fide factor other than sex such as education, training or experience. Such a factor could not be based on a sex-based differential, and must be job-related arid consistent with business necessity. This standard would mirror the current defense afforded to employers in disparate impact cases under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. The exception would not apply if the employee demonstrated that an employer uses a" particular employment practice that causes a disparate impact on the basis of sex and that there was an alternative employment practice that would accomplish the same-business purpose and the employer has refused to adopt such a practice. "Business necessity" would be defined as a factor that bears a manifest relationship to the employment in question, the definition enunciated by the Supreme Court in Griggs v.

Duke Power Co., 401 U S. 424 (1971) and subsequent cases Additionally, § 194 would be amended to clarify that a differential in pay may not exist even if the two employees whose rate of pay is being compared work in different physical locations, provided that those locations were in the same geographic region Section 194 would also be amended to forbid employers from prohibiting employees from sharing wage information This protection helps guarantee the individual state right of equal pay, without interfering with current federal provisions regarding collective protected activity aimed at "mutual aid and protection".

This bill would also:

*amend Labor L § 198 to increase the liquidated damages allowed for willful violations of § 194 to up to 300% of the wages found to be due; and *require the Department of Labor and the Division of Human Rights to make training available to employers to assist them in preventing discrimination and harassment in the workplace.

Existing Law:

This bill would impact existing protections that are available under the Labor Law.

Statement in Support:

* Achieving Pay Equity

Wage disparities have a detrimental effect on Society Individuals are put at an economic disadvantage because of characteristics that bear no relationship to their job performance. Such disparities prevent maximum utilization of labor in the state economy. Additionally, policies adopted by employers that discourage or prohibit employees from sharing information about their earnings can contribute to unjust wage disparities going undetected. Despite existing protections under the law, women in New York earn 84 percent of what men earn and jobs traditionally held by women pay significantly less than jobs predominately employing men. In New York, on average, a woman working full time is paid $42,113 per year, while a man working full time is paid $50,388 per year. This creates a wage gap of $8,275 between full-time working men and women in the state.

This bill would amend existing law to ensure that women receive the wages they were always entitled to, as well as provide for increased liquidated damages. Individuals who were paid unequal wages would be entitled to liquidated damages of up to 300% of the amount of unpaid wages Existing exemptions in the law would be tightened so that pay differentials are excused where the employer can show that the differential is truly caused by something other than sex and is related to job performance and consistent with business necessity Employers would also be prohibited from forbidding employees from sharing wage information that would otherwise deny women workers the ability to discover whether their wages are unequal to their male counterparts.

Budget Implications:

This bill has no budget implications for the State.

Effective Date:

This bill would take effect 90 days after enactment.