Equal Pay Act - Louisiana

Summary of differences between federal and state regulations

Unlawful employment practices

Louisiana law includes unlawful employment practices and exemptions similar to those under the federal Guidelines on Discrimination Because of Sex. For example, the state law includes an exemption for a bona fide occupational qualification.

Effective August 1, 3013, the state “Equal Pay for Women Act” offers substantially the same protections for women as those in the federal Equal Pay Act. In addition, the equal pay provisions of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission would apply.

The state law prohibits wage discrimination based on sex, but allows a difference in wages based on:

(1) A seniority system.

(2) A merit system.

(3) A system that measures earnings by quantity or quality of production.

(4) A differential based on a bona fide factor other than sex, including but not limited to education, training, or experience, provided that both:

(a) The employer demonstrates that such factor is related to the job position in question, and

(b) No alternative employment practice would serve the same legitimate business purpose without producing such a differential.

Posting

Every employer, employment agency, and labor organization must post and keep posted in conspicuous places upon its premises a notice prepared by the Department of Labor setting forth information the department deems appropriate.

State

Contact

Commission on Human Rights

Regulations

Louisiana Revised Statutes Title 23, Chapter 6-A, RS 23:661 through 23:669, Louisiana Equal Pay for Women Act

Louisiana Revised Statutes Title 23, RS 23:301 et seq., Prohibited Discrimination in Employment
http://legis.la.gov/Legis/Law.aspx?d=83864

Louisiana Revised Statutes Title 51, RS 51:2231 et seq., Louisiana Commission on Human Rights
http://legis.la.gov/Legis/Law.aspx?d=104274

Federal

Contact

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)

Regulations

29 CFR Part 1620, The Equal Pay Act

29 CFR 1621, Procedures — The Equal Pay Act