Comparable Worth

One of the more controversial issues in compensation is comparable worth. Comparable worth is the principle about jobs that are distinctly different but entail similar levels of ability, responsibility, skills, and working condition. In this case, they are of equal value and should have the same pay scale. Comparable worth legislation has been proposed as a solution to the problem of persistent gender inequity in pay.

Comparable worth means similar pay for similar work. While this sounds almost like the equal pay for equal work stipulated by the Equal Pay Act, the doctrine of comparable worth says that if we can compare your job with that of another person, and if the two jobs are similar but not the same, then we should pay you a similar wage but not necessarily exactly the same wage. So this concept is much broader than equal pay.

There are a few cases where comparable worth is now law, even though business argues that the laws are vague. Some states have passed comparable worth legislation that applies to state, county, and city agencies; and some have now even passed “fair pay” acts that apply to all employers in the state.

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