Equal Pay for Comparable Work
The principle that individuals performing jobs requiring substantially similar skill, effort, and responsibility under similar working conditions should receive equal compensation.
Definition
Under the Massachusetts Frances Perkins Workplace Equity Act, 'equal pay for comparable work' means that employers cannot discriminate on the basis of gender in the payment of wages for work that is substantially similar in that it requires substantially similar skill, effort, and responsibility, and is performed under similar working conditions. This standard moves beyond requiring identical job titles or duties, focusing instead on the actual content and demands of the work. Bona fide factors such as seniority, merit, or geographic location may justify pay differentials if they are not based on protected characteristics.