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Compliance April 24, 2008
Senate Rejects Time Limit Increase for Pay Discrimination Suits
April 24, 2008 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - The U.S. Senate
defeated a measure that would have overturned a Supreme Court
ruling affirming the 180-day statute of limitations on pay
discrimination lawsuits.
Reported by Rebecca Moore
The Wall Street Journal reports that by a 56-42 vote, short of the 60 votes needed, the Senate rejected the proposal to allow workers to file lawsuits alleging pay discrimination within six months after they receive a paycheck believed to be affected by a discriminatory decision. The Supreme Court in a decision last May affirmed that the law mandates employees must file any lawsuits within six months of the alleged discriminatory initial decision on pay (See High Court Rejects Years-Old Discrimination Claims ).
The Senate bill could have effectively eliminated any statute of limitations since it would have allowed an employee to file a lawsuit within six months of retiring after years of work with an employer.
A similar bill was passed in the U.S. House last December (See U.S. House Passes Measure Lifting Pay Lawsuit Time Limit ).