Equal Pay Litigation in Tennessee

Nashville Equal Pay Attorneys

If you believe you’re being paid less than men in your workplace, you’re not alone—and you’re not without legal protection. Despite decades of progress, many employers still fail to ensure equal pay for equal work, leaving hardworking women across Tennessee earning less than their male counterparts for performing substantially similar duties. Equal pay litigation gives employees the opportunity to challenge these disparities and recover the compensation they are legally owed.

Freeman & Fuson represents employees throughout Tennessee who have been underpaid because of sex-based wage discrimination. We help clients understand their rights under federal and state law, evaluate pay practices, gather evidence, and pursue claims designed to correct pay inequities and recover the wages they deserve.

Practice Areas 

Equal Pay Laws That Protect Tennessee Employees

Workers in Tennessee are protected by both federal and state laws, including:

• The Equal Pay Act (EPA), part of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), 29 U.S.C. § 206(d)
  Requires employers to pay men and women equally for jobs requiring equal skill, effort, and responsibility, performed under similar working conditions.
• The Tennessee Equal Pay Act (TEPA), T.C.A. § 50-2-202 et seq.
  Prohibits employers from paying employees of one sex less than employees of the opposite sex for comparable work and provides additional rights under state law.

Both statutes may apply to your case, and employees may be able to bring claims under one or both laws depending on the circumstances.

What Is an Equal Pay Claim?

An equal pay claim alleges that an employer pays a woman less than a man performing the same or substantially similar work.

Differences in job title do not matter—what matters is:

• The actual duties performed
• The level of responsibility
• The effort and skill required
• The working conditions

Common examples include:

• Women being paid a lower hourly rate or salary than male coworkers doing the same work
• Men receiving bonuses, premiums, or benefits that women in the same position are denied
• Women being placed in lower pay grades despite identical responsibilities

When successful, an equal pay claim may allow you to recover:

• Back pay
• “Liquidated damages” (additional money equal to the unpaid wages under the FLSA)
• Attorneys’ fees and costs
• Payment increases going forward

Under the FLSA, employees may be entitled to up to double the amount of unpaid wages, significantly increasing the value of a successful claim.

Why You Should Act Quickly

Claims under the Equal Pay Act and TEPA have strict time limits. Delaying a claim can reduce the amount of back pay you can recover—or cause you to lose your claim entirely.

Early legal advice helps ensure:

• Evidence is preserved
• Deadlines are met
• Pay information is collected before your employer changes records or policies
• Your rights under both FLSA and TEPA are fully protected
  

If you suspect wage discrimination, don’t wait to speak with an attorney.