Equal Pay for Comparable Work: Hot Topics for Navigating Maine's Equal Pay Law hosted by the LA Metro Chamber

You've probably heard the phrase 'equal pay for equal work' as a shorthand for the equal pay laws that require women be paid the same as men who do the same work.   In Maine, however, that is not quite the law. Under Maine's equal pay law, the sexes must be paid the same for "comparable work on jobs that have comparable requirements relating to skill, effort and responsibility" unless the pay differences are based on a few non-discriminatory exceptions. 
What does comparable work mean? What are the exceptions? What if some people are just better negotiators than others? What if employers have difference in pay in their workforce but had no intention to be discriminatory? Can you stop your employees from talking about what they're earning? What can you do if employees are complaining about their rates of pay compared to their coworkers and creating unrest? Local employment lawyers will lead a discussion about what Maine's Equal Pay Law requires under recent case law and what employers can be doing to make sure they are in compliance with the law.

Presenters: Amy Dieterich, Esq. of Skelton, Taintor and Abbott and Hannah Wurgaft, Esq. of Brann & Isaacson

Amy Dieterich is a lawyer with the firm of Skelton Taintor & Abbott in Auburn. Amy represents individual clients and businesses in commercial disputes, family matters, employment and labor law issues, as well as litigation, arbitration, and regulatory proceedings. Amy was selected for inclusion in 2017, 2018 and 2019, and 2020 New England Rising Stars© in the category of Business Litigation.  Amy was recognized by The Best Lawyers in America© 2021 for her work in the practice area of Employment Law - Individuals. In her spare time, Amy serves on the City of Auburn's Regulatory Advisory Board, is a Trustee of ACADIA Academy in Lewiston, and is a coach for the Lewiston High School Mock Trial Team.

Hannah Wurgaft is a lawyer at Brann & Isaacson. Hannah?s practice focuses on providing advice on labor and employment law and litigation. She provides advice to employers on day-to-day workplace issues, including personnel decisions. Hannah also conducts internal investigations and represents employers before the Maine Human Rights Commission, and in state and federal court. Hannah was selected as a 2021 SuperLawyers Rising Star in Labor & Employment Law. Hannah graduated from the University of Maine School of Law cum laude in 2019, and from Bowdoin College in 2014.