Real Life Story of Unequal Pay

Jessica, Technical Writer-Maitland, FL

Jessica was hired as a technical writer for a software development firm. About seven months after she was hired, she discovered that her male co-workers were being paid $4,000 more per year for doing the same work she was doing. When she complained to her supervisor, she was rebuffed and then harassed by her supervisor. She spent several months on maternity leave, but when she returned, the harassment continued. She sued her employer and was awarded $14,388 in back pay; $26,742 in damages for retaliation and failure of her employer to act in good faith, and another $26,829 for the company's gender discrimination under the Federal Title VII. On appeal, the court affirmed the awards for back pay and retaliation, but reversed the reward under Title VII because she failed to show intent to discriminate.

Meeks v. Computer Associates International, 15 F.3d 1013 (11th Cir. 1994)