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Equal Pay for Equal Work Act

Colorado’s Equal Pay for Equal Work Act (the “Act”) (C.R.S. § 8-5-101 et seq.), aims to close gender pay gaps and to ensure employees with “similar job duties are paid the same wage rate regardless of sex.” The Act has two parts. Part 1, referred to by the Division as “Unequal Pay,” requires employers to pay employees equally for substantially similar work regardless of sex. It also prohibits employers from (1) asking about an applicant’s pay history or relying on pay history to determine an employee’s wage rate; (2) discriminating or retaliating against a prospective employee for not disclosing their pay history; (3) not allowing employees to discuss pay; (4) requiring an employee to sign a document that prohibits the employee from discussing pay; (5) retaliating against an employee for using their rights under the Equal Pay Act, including by filing a complaint with this Division; and (6) retaliating against an employee for discussing pay. 

Part 2, referred to by the Division as “Pay Transparency,” requires transparency in pay and job opportunities. Specifically, it requires employers to disclose compensation in all job postings and notices, both internal and public. This disclosure must include information about benefits and how and when to apply. Employers must also disclose available job opportunities to all employees and then disclose who was selected to fill the position. In addition, if the employer uses career progressions for certain roles, it must disclose how to advance through career progressions to eligible employees. Finally, employers are required to preserve records of wages and job descriptions.

Complaints

The Division investigates complaints against employers concerning unequal pay and transparency in pay and employment opportunities. If you believe that an employer violated the Act, you may file a complaint with the Division. The Division only accepts complaints in writing using the online or written forms below. You should be complete in your responses and attach any evidence you have to support your claims.

Unequal Pay Complaints and Tips (Part 1)

If your complaint concerns unlawful unequal pay - when an employee is paid less than another employee of a different sex for performing substantially similar work or any other Part 1 violations listed above - please fill out the Unequal Pay Complaint form:

Anonymous Tips about Unequal Pay

To submit an anonymous tip about unequal pay or any other violation of Part 1, fill out the form below:

Anonymous tips should provide as much information as possible because the Division will not be able to reach back out for follow-up information. If you have files, emails, texts, or pay stubs that you think would be helpful to include, please describe them in the tip and email them to cdle_paygap@state.co.us

Pay Transparency Complaints (Part 2)

If your complaint concerns job postings or job opportunity announcements, including when an employer failed to include the required information in a posting or failed to notify employees of job opportunities, please fill out the Equal Pay Transparency Complaint form: 

Any person who has witnessed, suffered from, or been injured by a perceived violation can file a complaint for an alleged violation of the Act. If you would like to file anonymously, you may do so by completing the complaint form without including your personal information (Section I) and not signing the form. You can submit anonymous complaints by mail, fax, in person, or via an anonymous email address.

If you have filed a complaint and want an update, you may call the Division to inquire (non-anonymous claims only).

Resources

Guidance:

Statute: 

Equal Pay for Equal Work Act 8-5-101 et seq. can be found on our Labor Statutes page

Rules: 

The Posting, Screening, and Transparency (POST) Rules (7 CCR 1103-18) and the Statement of Basis and Purpose can be found on the Division’s Labor Rules page.

Decisions: 

Published Equal Pay Decisions can be found on our Citation and Appeal Decisions page, by searching for the keywords “equal pay.”


Key Equal Pay Claim Data

Table 1. Claim Summary Data
Table updated: 10.1.2024

Total Complaints filed since January 1, 2021:1,747 
Voluntary compliance letters sent to employers before formal investigations: 458 
Cure rate after employer receives voluntary compliance letter:73.41%no decision issued if violation not found, or cured in response to letter
Formal investigations:186no decision issued if compliance found before decision would be issued
Total citations issued:20decisions listed below
Citations with fines:6decisions listed below
Total fines in all citations:$238,000.00 
Total citation fines after post-citation settlements and waiver:$132,950.00 
Total pre-citation settlements:25no decision issued due to settlement
Pre-citation settlement fines:$96,250.00 

 

Table 2. Citation Detail
Table updated: 10.1.2024

Employer

Available on Decisions Page

Citation Date

Fine Amount

Fine Amount after Waivers & Settlements

Fine Status

2U, Inc.  5/25/2021$0.00N/AWaived before assessed
Advanced Circuits, Inc. 6/9/2021$2,000.00$0.00Waived after assessed
Amp Robotics Corp 11/4/2021$0.00N/AWaived before assessed
Argus International Inc. 4/30/2021$0.00N/AWaived before assessed
CannonDesign 5/12/2021$0.00N/AWaived before assessed
Cardinal HealthY10/1/2021$0.00N/AWaived before assessed
Charles Schwab 1/28/2022$0.00N/AWaived before assessed
Decentrix Inc. 7/16/2021$0.00N/AWaived before assessed
Dispatch Health 5/5/2021$0.00N/AWaived before assessed
DLR Group 5/10/2021$0.00N/AWaived before assessed
Eurofins 5/21/2021$0.00N/AWaived before assessed
Lockheed Martin 11/23/2022$151,000.00$79,500Paid
Melody Homes, Inc. dba D.R. Horton, Inc.  5/24/2021$0.00N/AWaived before assessed
Monigle AssociatesY7/8/2021$8,000.00N/APaid
Premier Inc 7/14/2021$0.00N/AWaived before assessed
Spoton Transact LLCY6/16/2022$33,000.00$16,500.00Paid
Tesla 7/6/2021$0.00N/AWaived before assessed
The Regents of the University of Colorado, a body corporate 12/21/2023$1,000.00N/APaid
Twitter 12/7/2022$43,000.00$27,950.00Paid
Universal Protection Service, LP dba Allied United 7/20/2021$0.00N/AWaived before assessed

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