HB 720 -- Wage Practices

Sponsor:  Bray

Current law prohibits employers from paying female employees
wages less than those paid to male employees for the same work.
This bill removes references to male and female employees and
prohibits paying any employee wages less than those paid to
employees of the opposite gender for the same work.  The bill
also:

(1)  Redefines "wages" to include bonuses, stock options, and
any compensation that has economic value to an employee;

(2)  Creates a civil cause of action against employers who pay
lower wages to employees of the opposite gender when the work
performed is equal, requires equal skill, and is performed under
similar conditions;

(3)  Exempts certain wage payment differentials from civil
action when they are based on merit systems, regional economic
factors, factors that measure pay due to output, or other bona
fide factors other than gender.  Varying local market rates for
equal jobs do not qualify for this exemption;

(4)  Prohibits employers from reducing wages to comply with the
bill;

(5)  Prohibits employers from retaliating against employees who
utilize the protections of the bill and creates a civil action
for actual and compensatory damages for such retaliation;

(6)  Creates a civil action against employers for actual damages
and compensatory damages, not to exceed twice the wages awarded,
for any unlawful gender-based pay practice;

(7)  Authorizes an injunction against employers for violation of
the provisions of the bill; and

(8)  Allows for the recovery of attorney's fees and court costs
in any civil action brought due to the bill.

Missouri House of Representatives
Last Updated September 13, 2001 at 2:03 pm