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GA SB373
Bill
Status
Introduced
2/11/2016
Primary Sponsor
Horacena Tate
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AI Summary
- Prohibits employers from paying an employee a lower wage than an employee of the opposite sex for equal work requiring equal skill, effort, and responsibility in the same establishment, defined as workplaces within the same county-sized geographical region
- Allows pay differentials based on seniority, merit, production-based systems, or bona fide factors such as education, training, or experience, provided those factors are not derived from sex-based pay differences and are consistent with business necessity
- Bars employers from prohibiting employees from inquiring about, discussing, or disclosing their own or coworkers' wages, with civil fines of $100–$500 per violation; employers may set reasonable time, place, and manner limitations through written policy
- Authorizes the Commissioner of Labor to investigate complaints, enforce the law through administrative or legal action, and assess liquidated damages of up to 100% of unpaid wages (or up to 300% for willful violations); prevailing employees may recover full underpayment, attorney's fees up to 25% of the judgment, and prejudgment interest
- Establishes a six-year statute of limitations for claims, provides for binding arbitration upon mutual agreement, prohibits retaliation against employees who file complaints or testify (with civil fines of $100–$1,000 per violation), and requires employers to post a copy of the law in the workplace
Legislative Description
"Georgia Equal Pay Act"; enact
Last Action
Senate Read and Referred
2/16/2016
Full Bill Text
No bill text available