Various approaches have been developed as methods to reduce comparable worth differences. These include judicial (increased enforcement, lawsuits, and legislation), interest group activities (collective bargaining, non-unionized negotiations, and public awareness activities), and actions of public administrators (job evaluations and voluntary pay adjustments). However, the number of comparable worth lawsuits against public sector organizations continues to increase. This study compares public sector litigation to that which occurred in the private sector. Findings include that private sector organizations have moved towards the more quantitative job evaluation methods and away from the job classification method, which public sector employers in the litigated cases used. While pay was of focal interest in the public sector, judgments tended not to support the awarding of monetary compensation in the public sector. The issue of lack of training opportunities was more prevalent as a basis for litigations in the private sector, but litigation with respect to promotion was found only in public sector cases.
Comparable Worth in the Public Sector