HARRISBURG, Pa. — The federal government is accusing a Pennsylvania international industrial and construction supply of paying female sales support employees less than their male coworkers for doing the same work.
According to a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Fastenal Company paid two female employees lower hourly wages than their male coworkers for doing the same equal work. One of the female employees who received lower wages even trained two of the male coworkers when they were hired, the EEOC said.
"Women should be paid equal wages when they do the same work as male coworkers," EEOC Philadelphia District Office regional attorney Debra Lawrence said in a statement. "Fairness and federal law require it."
"Remedying pay discrimination is a priority issue for the EEOC," added EEOC Philadelphia District Office director Jamie Williamson.
The EEOC alleges Fastenal violated the 1963 Equal Pay Act and Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.