AR HB1021

Prohibits employers from discriminating in wages based on sex and requires employers pay female employees the same salary or wage rates as male employees for substantially similar work considering skill, effort, responsibility, and working conditions.

Allows employers to justify pay differences based on seniority systems, merit systems, production-based systems, or other bona fide factors unrelated to sex, provided the factors are job-related, serve a legitimate business purpose, and are applied reasonably.

Establishes that prior salary alone does not justify pay differentials and allows employees to recover unpaid wages plus equal liquidated damages and attorney's fees in court actions or through Department of Labor complaints.

Prohibits employers from discharging, discriminating against, or retaliating against employees who disclose their own wages, discuss others' wages, inquire about wages, or aid other employees in exercising wage rights.

Provides remedies for retaliation including reinstatement, reimbursement for lost wages and benefits with interest, and equitable relief, with civil actions to be filed within one year of the violation.