Errington offers amendment to help end gender wage discrimination in the workplace

INDIANAPOLIS – State Rep. Sue Errington (D-Muncie) today offered an amendment to Senate Bill 409 that would take a positive step toward ending wage discrimination on the basis of gender in the workplace.

Her amendment would hold employers found to be discriminating on the basis of gender, liable for missed wages and benefits. It also specifies that liquidated damages must be paid back to the employee equal to the amount of wages and benefits awarded, along with compensatory and punitive damages.

“If a woman is being paid $10,000 less for the same work a man is doing, there’s something wrong with that,” Errington said. “Now, think about the difference in their 401K’s after 20 years of work. These losses are significant and make her less likely to be able to take care of herself and her family, as well as undermining her retirement security. This amendment would have righted that wrong.

“Indiana’s wage gap is the 8th worst in the nation, with an even wider difference for African American and Latina women,” continued Errington. “We can no longer deny that there is wage discrimination in the workplace.

“It is important to have adequate remedies for an equal pay violation both to ensure that victims of pay discrimination are made whole, and to ensure employers are incentivized to comply with the law.”

This amendment failed by a vote of 33-58, with only Republicans voting no.