What is the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act?

The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act is a federal law passed in 2009 that protects employees from discrimination based on their gender, race, national origin, or other characteristics. It was named after Lilly Ledbetter, a civil rights activist who fought for her right to be paid the same as her male peers. This law makes it easier for employees to challenge discriminatory pay practices in court and allows them to seek damages for a wider range of discriminatory practices, such as pay disparities and unequal raises. The law overturns a previous 2007 Supreme Court ruling that stated an employee who receives discriminatory pay must file a complaint within 180 days of when the discrimination occurred, even if they are unaware of the discrimination until later. The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act removed this restriction, meaning employees now have longer to file complaints. The law also expanded the definition of “discrimination” to include not only gender but also race, national origin, age, disability, and genetic information. In Virginia, employers are required to follow the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. This includes both offering equal pay for equal work and not retaliating against employees who challenge discriminatory practices. Companies who violate the law could face serious financial penalties, to be determined by the court. It is also important to note that the law only applies to employees of businesses with fifteen or more employees.

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What is the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act?

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