In the state of New York, a woman earned 87 cents for every dollar earned by her male counterpart in 2014. According to recent statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau, the gender pay gap exists in almost every congressional district.
But wage differences exist beyond genders. The other pay gap that still exists is the minority wage gap.
Studies reveal that women of color – Latinas and black women in particular – tend to be discriminated against during the initial hiring process simply for having ethnic-sounding first or last names. Consequently, it takes these groups longer to find employment for which they are qualified and are unable to compete for the best positions available. While nationwide white women earn 77 cents on the dollar compared to men, black women earn 65 cents and Latinas earn 55 cents when compared to the earnings of white men.
If you or someone you know believes they have been discriminated against because of race or gender, contact an experienced EEOC NYC attorney right away.
Filing an EEOC Complaint in NYC
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is tasked with enforcing federal laws that prohibit an employer’s discriminatory acts against an employee or job applicant based on the individual’s race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability or genetic information. Federal law also forbids an employer from discriminating against someone who has complained about discriminatory behavior, filed a charge of discrimination, or participated in a discrimination lawsuit or investigation.
Someone who has been the victim of discrimination and wishes to file a claim must, generally, submit one to the EEOC within 180 days from the date he or she became aware of the discrimination. Once a claim is filed, the EEOC will initially attempt to settle the matter through mediation. If settlements are unsuccessful, then the EEOC will conduct an investigation. Should the EEOC find a “reasonable cause” discrimination occurred, mediation will be attempted again. Should this second attempt at mediation fail, the EEOC may take action on behalf of the victim(s). Once six months have passed without resolution, an employment discrimination victim may request a “right-to-sue” letter from the EEOC. In addition to having a right to file a lawsuit in the appropriate court, the individual also has the right to any information discovered during the investigation process.
Contact the EEOC NYC Lawyers
If you or someone you know believes an unfair wage is being paid because of race or gender – or any other protected status – contact our knowledgeable EEOC NYC lawyers right away. The legal professionals at Levine & Blit, PLLC have years of experience and have won multi-million dollar settlements on behalf of clients. Contact us today at (212) 967-3000 today for your free initial case evaluation.