As expected, the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives has passed an amended version of the so-called Paycheck Fairness Act (H.R. 7), legislation that would significantly expand the Equal Pay Act (EPA) and impose significant new reporting requirements on employers and federal contractors.
Enactment of the Paycheck Fairness Act (PFA) is an ongoing high priority for Congressional Democrats, all of whom co-sponsored the legislation, and they delivered on their pledge to pass the bill early this session. Only seven Republicans voted for the bill, however, underscoring the continuing divide between the two parties on how best to address pay equity issues.
Indeed, during the House floor debate on HR. 7, Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) and 48 Republican co-sponsors introduced an alternative bill, the WAGE Equity Act (H.R. 1935), that would among other things amend the EPA to add a new defense for pay differentials that are the result of a “flexible work arrangement plan.”
A copy of H.R. 7, as passed by the House, is available online. A copy of the Republican alternative, H.R. 1935, is attached.
Members of the Center for Workplace Compliance (CWC) can read more here.