Morristown, NJ employment law attorney Chris Lenzo talks about the damages that can be awarded in an equal pay case. He explains that in an equal pay case, an employee who has been denied the same compensation as colleagues due to a protected characteristic—such as gender or race—is entitled to recover the pay differential. This means the employee can receive the additional wages that others of a different race or gender were earning.

He notes that, under the law, employees may also be entitled to liquidated damages, which can amount to 200% of the pay differential. For instance, if an employee is owed $100,000 to equalize pay, they could potentially recover an additional $200,000 in liquidated damages. Beyond monetary compensation, employees may pursue emotional damages and, in some cases, punitive damages intended to punish the employer for unlawful discrimination.

Finally, he emphasizes that once a case is successfully resolved in court, the employee can petition the court to order the employer to cover attorney’s fees, ensuring that legal costs incurred while enforcing their rights can also be recovered.