Palmdale School Failed to Pay Female and Male Tutors Equally, Federal Agency Charges

LOS ANGELES - The Guidance Charter School, a Palmdale, Calif.-based charter school and non-profit organization, violated federal law when it paid a female math tutor less than a male math tutor, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charged in a lawsuit filed today.

According to the EEOC's lawsuit, The Guidance Charter School paid a female math tutor a lower hourly rate than her male coworker, despite their jobs being interchangeable, because of her gender.

Such alleged conduct violates the Equal Pay Act of 1963 and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The EEOC filed suit in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California (EEOC v. The Guidance Charter School, Case No. 2:18-cv-02323) after first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its conciliation process. The EEOC's suit seeks back pay along with liquidated damages and/or compensatory and punitive damages for the female employee, as well as injunctive relief intended to prevent and address discrimination.

"Ensuring that women receive equal pay for equal work is one of the EEOC's strategic enforcement priorities," said Anna Park, regional attorney for the EEOC's Los Angeles District. "There is no excuse for employers underpaying someone simply because of her gender."

Rosa Viramontes, director for the EEOC's Los Angeles District, added, "Equal pay is a top priority for the EEOC. All employees deserve to be paid equally for the same job and same work, and the EEOC will keep working hard to make sure that principle is observed throughout America."

According to the charter school's website, www.thegcs.org, The Guidance Charter School serves students enrolled in grades K-12.

Enforcement of equal pay laws and targeting compensation systems and practices is one of the six national priorities identified by the Commission's Strategic Enforcement Plan (SEP).