Yes, the EPA recognizes several exceptions that allow pay differences between men and women if they are based on legitimate, non-gender-related factors. These include:
- Seniority System:
Employees with more years of service may receive higher wages. For example, if a male employee has worked at a company longer than a female employee, the pay difference may be justified. - Merit System:
Employers can pay employees differently based on performance evaluations, provided the criteria are clearly defined, consistently applied, and not based on gender. - System Measuring Quantity or Quality of Production:
Pay can be based on output or productivity. For example, a salesperson earning more because they closed more deals would be an acceptable pay disparity under the EPA.
A Factor Other than Sex: This is a broad category that includes legitimate business reasons, such as differences in education, certifications, training, or geographic location, provided they are unrelated to gender.
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