All About Wage Discrimination
When you start a small business, there is a lot of money to spend on items that are considered “frivolous.” But there is one expense that no company can ignore, and it is the issue of wage discrimination. You may be wondering what wage discrimination has to do with your current or future small business. The same thing that unpaid sales commissions have – the law. And if you think you can just stop paying some of your workers without consequence, think again.
As a business owner, it is your responsibility to understand the laws regarding employee pay and rights. Failure to do so could put your business at risk and is not worth the headache. Let’s take a closer look at wage discrimination and how you can avoid it in your business.
What is Wage Discrimination?
For those who do not know, wage discrimination occurs when an employee receives a lower wage than another worker for different reasons such as race, religion, or gender. An example of wage discrimination would be two employees who perform the same job and have the same experience background yet get paid different wages. Luckily for many workers, there are laws set in place that protect them against situations such as these from occurring; these include:
- Equal Pay Act
- Title VII
- ADEA
- ADA
Each of these laws deals with the topic of wage discrimination in a different light and aims to protect all workers with the rights that they deserve regardless of their sex, disability, age, or religious beliefs. Another essential factor to note is that all types of payment are protected under these laws, which include:
- vacation and holiday pay
- overtime
- salary
- life insurance
- bonus plans
- benefits
Prevention
Wage discrimination is a significant problem that businesses need to be aware of. As a business owner, you should understand the laws surrounding employee pay and ensure that your employees are being paid equally based on their performance, experience, and how they compare in roles to the rest of your workforce. Here are a few ways in which you can prevent these situations from occurring in your business, such as:
- proper hiring policies
- knowledge of state and local laws
- legal policies and manager training
No matter how big or small your business is, the way you treat your employees goes a long way. Creating a healthy and equal work environment gives each employee the chance to thrive within your business, benefiting you the most. Here at Vision HR, we make payroll management easier for your business. Contact us today to see how we can help your Jacksonville business manage all your payroll needs.
