Originally Posted by
bergmann620
It does, but you're missing his point.
In a normal business dispute- say, Activision vs former Infinity Ward staff:
IW staff sues because they feel they weren't properly compensated.
They, the plaintiff, must prove that they weren't paid as per the agreement they had in place. They must present contracts, payments, etc to prove their case. The defense, Activison, does what they feel they need to defend themselves.
In an equal pay case, if all the IW workers were women, and said they were compensated at a lower rate due to sexism, they need only prove they were doing similar work, recieved less pay, and that it MIGHT have been sexism. At that point, they have no burden of proving that it WAS sexism- that burden falls on the defense to prove that it wasn't.
It runs counter to the very nature of our court system.
Further, (and this is where it disproportionately hurts small/mid-size businesses) businesses need to be pro-active to diffuse potential bombs by building in formal review structures, creating paper trails for CYA, etc.
I just think the whole thing is a load of bullshit. As has been said by me in the past, isn't it funny how a 7% pay gap (assuming it is only ever gender bias that causes it) requires legislative correction, but a 20% and growing educational gap doesn't?
Isn't it amusing and convenient that when women make on average 7% less, it's the fault of big, bad men, but when women outnumber men in the workforce and vastly outnumber them in college, it's because they must work harder or be smarter?
Isn't it amusing that women are actually a slight majority in this country, and a bigger majority in the voting booth, and yet are still a protected minority?
If there is a war on women, it is obviously about as successful as our wars on drugs and poverty.
And before you get your panties in a bunch, Eresis, the above is not something I'm concerned about. I'm not a victim. I'm not playing a card. I'm just amused.
---------- Post added 2012-05-16 at 10:08 AM ----------
Ironically, it is starting pay that has the smallest gap.