BALTIMORE — The Maryland Insurance Administration has settled allegations by the federal of government of paying female employees less wages than their male counterparts for equal work.
According to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the Maryland Insurance Administration paid three female fraud investigators less than male fraud investigators who were doing the same work. The Maryland Insurance Administration's wages, which were based on gender, violated the Equal Pay Act (EPA), according to the lawsuit filed by the EEOC.
"We are pleased that the Maryland Insurance Administration worked closely with us to resolve this case, ensuring a fair result and avoiding further litigation costs," said EEOC regional attorney Debra Lawrence. "This settlement protects all employees from sex-based wage discrimination going forward. Compensating employees without regard to sex benefits the entire workforce, as employees are valued for their work, and not for their gender. We are pleased that the Maryland Insurance Administration cooperated with the EEOC to provide a just resolution for these employees."
The Maryland Insurance Administration will pay $36,802 in back pay and liquidated damages and will institute new policies for setting wages based on "non-gender criteria," according to the EEOC.