NC H603

Enacts North Carolina Equal Pay Act requiring employers with more than five employees to pay equal wages to employees of opposite sexes in the same establishment for the same classification of work with equal quantity and quality.

Permits variations in pay based on seniority, length of service, ability, skill, duties performed, shift or time of day worked, hours of work, or other reasonable non-sex-based factors exercised in good faith.

Prohibits employers from reducing any employee's pay to achieve compliance with the Act and from retaliating against employees who seek redress or participate in complaint investigations.

Allows affected employees to file complaints with the Department of Labor or bring civil actions to recover unpaid wages, costs, and attorneys' fees without exhausting administrative remedies.

Establishes a two-year statute of limitations for civil actions from the date the alleged violation is discovered by the affected employee.