FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 24, 2009
EEOC OBTAINS OVER $300,000 FOR CLASS OF FEMALE PROFESSORS
SUBJECTED TO PAY DISCRIMINATION
Settlement with Adelphi University of Long Island Also Includes Remedial Relief
NEW YORK Ãâ Adelphi University of Garden City, N.Y., one of the
largest universities on Long Island, has agreed to settle a pay discrimination
lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employ¬ment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
for more than $300,000 and significant remedial relief, the federal agency
announced today. The EEOC had charged that Adelphi paid a group of
women professors less than male professors performing the same work.
According to the EEOC's lawsuit, a class of female full-time professors was
paid less than male professors of the same or lesser rank teaching within the
same school. This violation had been ongoing since at least April 2004, the
EEOC said. Pay discrimination by gender violates the Equal Pay Act and Title
VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The EEOC filed the suit in U.S. District
Court for the Southern District of New York (EEOC v. Adelphi University, No.
07-CV-4001).
"Working women should never be shortchanged by receiving unequal pay for
performing equal work," said EEOC Acting Chairman Stuart J. Ishimaru, who
noted that the agency receives upward of 5,000 wage bias charge filings
nationwide each year under all the statutes it enforces.
"The EEOC intends to enhance enforcement in this area by focusing on
systemic cases, in addition to increasing public outreach and education."
By the terms of the consent decree settling the suit, Adelphi agreed to pay
$305,889 to 37 claimants, as well as salary increases for 30 claimants.
Further, Adelphi agreed to comply with the requirements of the Equal Pay Act
and Title VII. The decree also requires monitoring and training on anti-
discrimination law for the following three years.
EEOC New York Trial Attorney Louis Graziano, said, "The consent decree puts
mechan¬isms in place to prevent pay discrimination at Adelphi in the future."
New York District Director EEOC Spencer H. Lewis added, "Employees are
entitled to work in a workplace without disparity and differential treatment
based on sex. The EEOC will seek full relief against employers who continue
to pay women less than their male peers."
The EEOC enforces federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination.
Further information about the EEOC is available on its web site at
www.eeoc.gov.