MSE Helps TIME’S UP Brings the #MeToo Movement to the Workplace

Even before the #MeToo movement, attorneys at MSE provided legal assistance to employees experiencing gender discrimination in the workplace, working to address:

Pay disparity and inequity, including Equal Pay Act violations and Fair Labor Standards Act violations for unpaid overtime and other violations connected to gender discrimination
Sexual harassment and assault in the workplace
Sex discrimination, including discrimination based on stereotyping that pushes women and LGBTQ individuals out of their jobs
Workplace discrimination based on pregnancy
Retaliation against employees who speak out about discrimination and harassment.

In August 2019, MSE joined forces with the TIME’S UP Legal Defense Fund and the Legal Network for Gender Equity, allowing the firm to reach more workers trapped in the cycle of workplace disempowerment, retaliation, and isolation based on their gender.

MSE’s attorneys are eager to do their part to fight for workers in hostile environments that silence them. If you were given the contact information for one of MSE’s attorneys from the Legal Network and would like to reach out, please do so through our private and confidential email, dedicated to these cases: BeHeard@mselaborlaw.com, or by calling the direct line of the MSE attorney that the Legal Network provided you.

If you would like to learn more, or if you have experienced gender-motivated violations of your rights, please contact us by filling out the “Contact Us” form which can be found at the top menu bar or by emailing us at info@mselaborlaw.com

Below is a list of resources for informational purposes regarding the TIME’S UP Legal Defense Fund, the Legal Network for Gender Equity, as well as resources for other topics such as sexual assault, domestic violence, stalking, and reporting violations. We have also provided additional resources for equal pay in the workplace available in the drop-down boxes below.

Hotlines and Support Groups

Equal Pay

Congress enacted the Equal Pay Act to remedy the serious and endemic problem of gender-based pay disparity in private industry and in government. The law mandates that equal work must be rewarded with equal wages, regardless of the employees’ gender. Unfortunately, the problem of gender disparity in wages persists because it is deeply rooted in employers’ outmoded pay practices.

As the Supreme Court has noted, “the wage structure of ‘many segments of American industry has been based on an ancient but outmoded belief that a man, because of his role in society, should be paid more than a woman even though his duties are the same.’ The solution adopted [to resolve this] was quite simple in principle: to require that ‘equal work will be rewarded by equal wages.’” Corning Glass Works v. Brennan.

The Equal Pay Act provides an important method for challenging unlawful and discriminatory pay practices for employees across numerous industries, including those discussed in more detail below. If you believe you have been paid less than your male coworkers for equal work, contact us at info@mselaborlaw.com.

Aside from simply being paid a smaller salary or wage than your male counterparts for the same position, other evidence of a violation of the Equal Pay Act includes:

Absence of women in leadership positions;
Roadblocks to promotions;
Discouragement from discussing and/or negotiating salary increases;
Lower salary than male predecessor for the same job, or if you have recently changed jobs, learning that your male replacement was offered a higher salary;
Fewer benefits are provided than to male colleagues such as stock options, paid leave, or pension contributions; or
An atmosphere akin to a “boys club” or “fraternity.”

Equal pay violations are prominent in a broad range of industries, including technology, professional sports, pharmaceuticals, finance, higher education, and media.

If you believe you have been a victim of gender-based pay disparity, please contact us for more information about pursuing your right to equal pay.