Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. McCarthy

**EEOC v. McCarthy (1983): College Ordered to Pay Female Faculty Equally** This case involved female professors at Framingham State College who were paid less than their male colleagues for doing the same work. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) sued the college on behalf of these women, claiming the pay differences violated the Equal Pay Act, which requires equal pay for equal work regardless of gender. The court ruled in favor of the female faculty members. The judge found that Framingham State College deliberately violated federal law by maintaining a pay system that discriminated against women professors. The court ordered the college to provide back pay to affected female faculty members going back to June 1, 1973. This ruling matters for workers because it demonstrates that the Equal Pay Act has real enforcement power. When employers pay women less than men for substantially similar work, federal agencies like the EEOC can step in and force corrections. The decision also shows that back pay can stretch years into the past, making wage discrimination costly for employers. Workers facing similar pay disparities should know they have legal protections and can seek help from the EEOC to address gender-based pay discrimination.