What is pay equity?

Pay equity is a person’s right to receive a wage equal to that of another person in a job of equivalent value in the same company. Pay equity reduces the wage gap between typically female jobs and typically male jobs. All workers are entitled to pay equity.

Wages for predominantly female jobs may have been undervalued due to gender discrimination. The purpose of the Loi sur l’équité salariale is to correct differences in pay caused by this type of discrimination within a company.

The Act applies to companies with an average of 10 or more workers. It is intended for unionized or non-unionized employees, regardless of their employment status (full time, part time, permanent, temporary, seasonal, etc.).

Learn more about pay equity by watching the video Le concept d’équité salariale (in French only).

What is a typically female or typically male job?

A typically female job, such as secretary, receptionist, cashier or nurse, is traditionally or predominantly held by women.

A typical male job, such as mechanic, janitor, delivery driver or grocery clerk, is traditionally or predominantly held by men.

Watch the video La prédominance sexuelle des catégories d’emplois (in French only) to understand the difference better.

Pay equality and pay equity: 2 very different concepts

Pay equality requires equal pay for equal work. When 2 people do the same job, have the same number of years of seniority and equal performance, they must receive the same pay.;

Pay equity goes further. It requires that people in a typically female job receive a wage equal to that of people in a typically male job of equivalent value within a company. For example, an administrative assistant’s job (typically female job) could have the same value as a machinist’s job (typically male job) in a factory. The remuneration offered should be the same for both jobs.

Do you want to understand the difference between the two better? The video Pay equity – Acknowledge women’s work at its fair value will help you differentiate them.