Are you being paid less than a coworker who performs the same job? If so, your employer may be violating Washington’s Equal Pay and Opportunities Act (EPOA), a powerful law designed to protect workers from unfair wage practices and promote wage transparency.
At Emery | Reddy, PC, we represent workers who’ve been shortchanged, misled, or retaliated against for speaking up about pay disparities. If you suspect you’re being paid less because of your gender, race, or other protected characteristics, or if your employer is keeping salary information secret, it’s time to understand your rights.
Washington’s EPOA, originally passed in 1943 and significantly updated in 2018, is one of the strongest wage equity laws in the country. The law provides:
With the rise of wage transparency laws across the U.S., Washington has taken a leadership role in making pay more equitable, but many workers still don’t realize when their rights are being violated.
One of the most common signs of an EPOA violation is when two employees with comparable jobs are paid unequally — and that disparity is tied to gender or other bias.
The law defines “similarly employed” as workers who do substantially similar work, when considering:
Job titles alone don’t matter. If your daily duties, responsibilities, and skill sets align with a coworker’s, but you’re paid significantly less, it may be time to seek legal advice.
Wage transparency is the idea that workers should have access to salary ranges, either during the hiring process or while working. Washington’s EPOA now requires employers with 15+ employees to disclose wage and benefit information in all job postings.
That means:
If your company refuses to post salary ranges or threatens you for talking about pay, it’s violating the law.
Watch for these red flags in the workplace:
Any of these could indicate a wage transparency or discrimination issue. Employers are required by law to explain legitimate, non-discriminatory reasons for pay differences and failure to do so could expose them to legal action.
If you believe your rights under Washington’s EPOA have been violated, take these steps:
Navigating wage discrimination claims can be complex. Employers may offer weak justifications, deny access to records, or intimidate employees into dropping complaints. An experienced L&I Attorney can:
You deserve to know if you’re being treated — and paid — fairly. And if you’re not, you deserve someone in your corner.
The Equal Pay and Opportunities Act is more than just a set of guidelines — it’s a powerful legal tool to fight wage discrimination and demand fairness. But too many Washington workers are still paid unfairly and kept in the dark about their rights.
If you suspect you’re being underpaid or retaliated against for asking about your compensation, don’t wait. Contact Emery | Reddy today for a Free Case Review and take the first step toward reclaiming the wages and respect you deserve.
Whether you’ve been injured on the job, subjected to mistreatment in the workplace, or affected by a privacy breach, our expert attorneys are here to help.
