ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has filed a lawsuit against Sealed Air Corp., a protective packaging business, for allegations of violating federal law through sex discrimination.
The defendants allegedly paid a female production supervisor lower wages than her male counterpart. According to EEOC, the two employees contributed substantially equal work under similar working conditions. Alleged conduct of this nature violates the Equal Pay Act of 1963, which bans sex-based compensation discrimination, as well as Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
"Unfortunately, women in New Mexico today make an average of 79 cents for every dollar a man is paid for the same job,” EEOC Phoenix District Office regional attorney Mary Jo O'Neill said. “By enforcing the Equal Pay Act, the EEOC is attempting to ensure that women in New Mexico will be paid an equal and fair wage."
EEOC seeks lost wages, liquidated damages, compensatory damages, and punitive damages for the alleged victim.
"Fighting wage discrimination and closing the pay gap is a priority for EEOC,” Derrick Newton, director of the Albuquerque Area Office, said. “Such discrimination violates federal law and is unfair to women and their families."