Pay Act

There is much evidence of the salary disparities that exist in higher education. Women often make less than men, regardless of rank and position. Of course, we should not be surprised given the pay disparity that exists in most jobs.

Today, a step was taken in the right direction. Obama signed the Lilly Ledbetter Act. The National Women's Law Center explains the details of the act:

In Ledbetter, the Supreme Court held that employees cannot challenge ongoing compensation discrimination if the employer's original discriminatory decision occurred more than 180 days before, even when the employee continues to receive paychecks that have been discriminatorily reduced. Because pay information is often confidential, it may take a long time for an employee to realize that she is experiencing compensation discrimination. And if employers are insulated from liability after 180 days, they have little incentive to correct pay discrimination that occurs. The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act would restore long-standing law and promote voluntary compliance with anti-discrimination laws by employers. It would ensure that employees subject to discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age or disability have the opportunity to challenge every discriminatory paycheck that they receive.

See a pic on Whitehouse.gov. BTW, I love the new white house site!