Question

IBN has two manufacturing facilities, one in New York and one in Oklahoma. Marjorie has worked in the Oklahoma plant for 15 years assembling resistors. Her sister, Ellen, has worked at the same plant for 15 years also. Their brother, Hank, has worked there for 10 years in the same job as his sisters. Ellen transfers to the New York facility. Their salaries are now as follows: Marjorie-$12 per hour; Ellen-$19.50 per hour; Hank-$14 per hour. Is there a violation of the Equal Pay Act?

Answer 1

Answer:

Yes, there is a violation of the Equal Pay Act because Hank's salary ($14 per hour) is higher than Marjorie's ($12 per hour).

Explanation:

The Equal Pay Act of 1963 basically establishes that no employer can pay a higher salary to an employee of one sex and pay a lower salary to an employee of the opposite sex. Theoretically this law protects both women and men, since the provision doesn't establish a specific sex that is protected.

In this case, it is OK for Ellen to earn a higher salary than Hank because she has more experience and she was transferred to the New York facility. But Hank shouldn't earn a higher salary than Marjorie because she is a more experienced worker.

This law doesn't consider the differences between Ellen's salary and Marjorie's.