Pay equity is a hot topic – and not just in employment and
HR circles. Both inside and outside of the courts, the issue
has gained national attention and is spurring legislators in states
across the country to act. Recent developments are a timely
reminder to all employers to start thinking proactively about pay
equity and ensure pay is based on proper criteria (performance,
experience, effort, skills) and never gender or other protected
characteristics.
For instance, in March, a California Court made headlines after
allowing a class action complaint alleging systemic pay
discrimination on behalf of women in thirty enumerated job
positions employed by a high-profile technology company to proceed,
in part based on allegations that the company had a business-wide
policy of considering new hires' previous salaries when
determining starting salary and job level. Additionally, in a
case that's grabbing attention from lawyers and non-lawyers
alike, Rizo v. Yovino, the
