Morristown, NJ employment law attorney Chris Lenzo talks about what’s required to win an equal pay lawsuit. He shares that New Jersey has a more comprehensive equal pay statute than the federal law, both in terms of what an employee must demonstrate to establish a violation and in the remedies available. The principle of equal pay holds that individuals performing the same or substantially similar work should receive the same rate of compensation.

Historically, equal pay cases primarily arose in the context of gender discrimination, as women were often paid less than men for equivalent work. Unfortunately, studies show that pay disparities persist across occupations.

Under New Jersey law, equal pay protections extend beyond gender, covering race, age, religion, disability, and other characteristics protected by the state’s anti-discrimination laws. Unlike federal law, which requires proof of exactly the same work, New Jersey’s statute uses the standard of substantially similar work, making it a more accessible and employee-friendly legal framework.