One of the new president’s first actions in office will be to sign a law making it easier for employees to file wage discrimination lawsuits.
The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act was passed last week by the Senate, after getting approval from the House of Representatives earlier in the month.
The bill now goes to President Obama, who has been a vocal supporter of the new law. He’s expected to sign it on January 29.
It will overturn a 2007 Supreme Court case — Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. — by greatly expanding the statute of limitations for pay bias claims.
Lilly Ledbetter sued Goodyear after learning she’d been paid less than males working the same job.
The Court decided against her, because she failed to file her complaint within the statute of limitations. According to the Court, she had to file within 180 days after the discriminatory decision was made — in this case, when she was hired 20 years ago.
The new law will give employees a new 180-day window to sue every time they receive a paycheck in which they claim they are discriminated against.
