FIU Pays $575k in Back Wages, Interest to Resolve Alleged Gender Pay Discrimination
Florida International University was ordered to pay $575,000 for allegedly paying female employees less than male employees who were doing the same jobs. The matter was identified in a routine compliance review. A review of FIU’s by the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs alleged that from August 1, 2017, to August 1, 2018, the university paid female employees less than men in similar positions. The institution’s failure to give equal pay for equal work violated Executive Order 11246 which prevents federal contractors from discriminating in employment based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin.
The university will be required to pay backpay and damages related to the matter.
Gender pay gap discrimination in Florida
Employers that hold federal contracts are required to provide all employees with equal employment opportunities and audit their own employment processes to ensure no barriers to equal employment exist. They cannot pay male employees one rate and then female employees at a lower rate. It is against the law and constitutes gender discrimination in the workplace. When an employer does pay different rates to employees based on a protected characteristic, they can be sued by both the employees and the federal government which upholds the provisions set forth in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.
In addition to paying back wages and damages, FIU agreed to set aside $125,000 for future pay equity adjustments and other pay equity activities. The further agreed to take steps to ensure its compensation practices and policies are free from discrimination. FIU entered into an “early resolution conciliation agreement” to resolve allegations of gender discrimination in compensating for employment positions.
FIU provides educational, research and development, basic research, consulting, and security services to the federal government. FIU also holds contracts with the Department of Defense, the Agency for International Development, the Department of Commerce, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Any entity that does work for the federal government must uphold the strictest standards in hiring and compensating related to various forms of discrimination.
FIU is a multi-campus, public university in South Florida that emphasizes research as a major component of the University’s mission. It boasts over 55,000 students and is among the top 10 largest universities in the U.S. As a public university, it is required by law to meet certain standards when it comes to hiring, compensating, promoting, or firing employees from the university. As a contractor with the federal government, the university can be sued by the Department of Labor for failing to compensate female employees the same way they compensate male employees.
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Source:
dol.gov/newsroom/releases/ofccp/ofccp20231018
