Equal Pay Act Complaint Filed Against CFPB

Florine Williams, a senior equal employment opportunity specialist with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Office of Civil Rights, is alleging the bureau violated the Equal Pay Act by keeping her salary roughly $25,000 less than a male coworker in the same department and position. 

Florine Williams and her attorney, Raymond C. Fay from Fay Law Group in Washington, D.C., filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. She alleges her pay was kept lower even after reporting the issue to her supervisor, according to The National Law Journal.

Williams took her position at the CFPB in October 2013  at a base salary of $150,000, according to the complaint. Maling’s starting base salary was $174,000 and Williams’ supervisor said she would recommend her starting pay at $187,000 based on her experience and qualifications. As both employees received annual pay increases, Williams' salary remained approximately $30,000 below Maling’s earnings, according to the complaint.

Williams told her supervisor, Director of the Office of Equal Employment Opportunity Mary Stacey Bach, about her concerns in March 2014 and Bach said she would review her concerns. Her concern ultimately was reviewed by Kevin Balkanloo, compensation specialist with Human Capital, who re-evaluated Williams’ salary and determined there was no pay disparity present, according to the complaint.

Williams also contacted an equal employment opportunity counselor about the issue before ultimately filing her court complaint Monday. She also raised concerns about the bureau’s violations of the Lilly Ledbetter Act and its internal policy. Williams has addressed discrimination issues at the bureau before and it has received allegations and complaints from other employees.

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