New Jersey Attorney General Announces Settlement in Gender Pay Discrimination Case

On January 8th, 2024, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin announced that the state’s Division on Civil Rights (DCR) has reached a settlement in a gender pay discrimination case with AT&T. The employment law claim was filed on behalf of a female worker who alleges that her pay was lower than similarly-situated male colleagues. In this article, our New Jersey gender discrimination attorney provides a more comprehensive overview of the settlement reached in this equal pay case.

Gender Pay Settlement: Female Employee Underpaid 

The New Jersey Attorney General and Division on Civil Rights (DCR) have reached a Consent Decree with AT&T. The settlement agreement will resolve allegations of equal pay violations under the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination—and, more specifically, the state’s 2018 Diane B. Allen Equal Pay Act. The DCR found probable cause that a female AT&T employee was paid less than a male colleague for similar work. She will receive $162,500 in financial compensation and an additional annual salary increase of over $10,000. Beyond that, AT&T has agreed to conduct a Compensation Study of employee salaries, monitor its pay practices, develop an Equal Pay Act compliance policy

 An Overview of the New Jersey Diane B. Allen Equal Pay Act 

In 2018, New Jersey lawmakers passed one of the strongest and most comprehensive state-based equal pay laws in the entire country. The Diane B. Allen Equal Pay Act is a law that is designed to ensure everyone gets equal pay for similar work—no matter their gender. The law is New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (LAD). It provides strong remedies to affected workers.

 Three Steps to Take If You Believe You are a Victim of Pay Discrimination 

Were you a victim of gender-based pay discrimination in New Jersey? It is imperative that you take immediate action to protect your rights. Here are three important steps to take:

1. Document Everything: Start by gathering evidence. Keep detailed records of your job role, responsibilities, and performance. If possible, it is useful to compare your pay with colleagues in similar roles.
2. Report Your Concerns: You should report your concerns to the appropriate person or department in your company, like your manager or human resources department. New Jersey law protects workers against retaliation for reporting pay discrimination issues.
3. Consult With a Lawyer: Do not take on the legal claims process alone. A top-tier employment law attorney who has experience handling pay discrimination matters can review your case and help you determine the next steps.

Contact Our New Jersey Equal Pay Attorney Today

At Poulos LoPiccolo PC, our New Jersey gender discrimination lawyer has the skills and experience to take on the full range of equal pay cases. If you believe that you were paid less than coworkers due to your gender, we are here to help. Contact us today to arrange a confidential initial case review. We represent employees in Monmouth County and throughout all of New Jersey.

Source:

njoag.gov/attorney-general-platkin-and-division-on-civil-rights-announce-equal-pay-act-settlement-with-att/