A Palmdale charter school has been by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for allegedly violating federal law by paying a female math tutor less than a male tutor.
According to the lawsuit, The Guidance Charter School paid a female math tutor a lower hourly rate than her male co-worker, even though their jobs were interchangeable, because of her gender.
A request for comment emailed to a school administrator was not immediately answered. The Guidance school serves students enrolled in grades K-12.
The suit was filed in Los Angeles federal court after the agency attempted to reach a prelitigation settlement through its conciliation process, according to the EEOC.
The complaint seeks back pay along with liquidated damages and/or compensatory and punitive damages for the female employee, as well as injunctive relief intended to prevent and address discrimination.
“Ensuring that women receive equal pay for equal work is one of the EEOC’s strategic enforcement priorities,’’ said Anna Park, regional attorney for the agency’s Los Angeles office. “There is no excuse for employers underpaying someone simply because of her gender.’’
Added Rosa Viramontes, director of the EEOC’s Los Angeles office: “Equal pay is a top priority for the EEOC. All employees deserve to be paid equally for the same job and same work, and the EEOC will keep working hard to make sure that principle is observed throughout America.’’
