Equal Pay for Equal Work Claims

In Ontario, employees are protected by laws that guarantee equal pay for equal work. Under the Employment Standards Act, 2000 and the Pay Equity Act, employers are prohibited from paying employees differently on the basis of gender or employment status when they perform substantially the same work.

Equal pay laws apply when:

• You perform work that is substantially the same as another employee in terms of skill, effort, and responsibility;
• The work is performed under similar working conditions; and
• The difference in pay cannot be justified by a valid factor such as seniority, merit, or quantity/quality of production.

If you believe that you are being paid less than a colleague for substantially the same work—particularly because of your gender, part-time status, or temporary contract—you may have a legal claim.

At Singh Lamarche LLP, we advise and represent employees in a range of pay equity and equal pay disputes. We can help you:

• Assess whether your situation meets the legal criteria for an equal pay claim;
• Request pay transparency or clarification from your employer in a strategic and protected manner;
• File a complaint under the Employment Standards Act or the Pay Equity Act, or pursue related human rights claims;
• Negotiate a fair resolution, including back pay and ongoing compensation adjustments.

We also assist employees placed through temporary help agencies or on fixed-term contracts who are being paid less than permanent employees for the same work—something that may violate Ontario law.

Equal pay is not just a legal right—it’s a matter of fairness and dignity at work. If you have concerns about wage disparity, Singh Lamarche LLP is here to help you understand your options and take informed action.