The Equal Pay Act and Its Effect on Women in Business

Over the last 50 years, women have become an undeniable influence in the workforce. As of 2006, there were eleven Fortune 500 companies run by women, including Radio Shack, eBay and Xerox. (Women CEOs, 2006). However, even with such great strides made to support women in big business, discrimination does still sometimes rear its ugly head. This paper will discuss the Equal Pay Act of 1963, and the strides society has made in equal pay since the law was passed. The paper will also discuss some of the violations against the law and what was done to combat the violations.

The Equal Pay Act of 1963 is a law that was passed "To prohibit discrimination on account of sex in the payment of wages by employers engaged in commerce or in the production of goods for commerce." [S. 1409] (Avalon Project, 2006) Prior to the Equal Pay Act, men and women were not treated fairly within regards to wages. It was not unheard of for a man to make twice the salary for doing the same job a woman was capable of doing. With the passing of the Equal Pay Act, women are now a driving force in some of the biggest and most successful companies in the world.

Anne Mulcahy, the CEO of the Xerox Corporation, led her company to over $15 million in revenue for 2005 with a 13% profit increase since 2004. Xerox ranks number 4 in the list of Fortune 500 computer and office equipment companies, surpassing powerhouses such as Apple, Pitney Bowes, and Gateway, companies all with men at the helm. (Fortune 500, 2006) Without the enactment of the Equal Pay Act, Anne Mulcahy may never have gotten the chance to advance to her current position.