Ledbetter v. Goodyear: Circumscribing Title VII's Discrimination Protections

Abstract

In Ledbetter v. Goodyear (2007) the U.S. Supreme Court was asked to clarify Title VII's rules related to the timeliness of pay discrimination claims. The Court's decision formalized the legal difference between discrete instances of discrimination and the lingering effects of discrimination as they relate to how much time an employee has to file a discrimination claim with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. A key distinction was drawn between a discriminatory organizational pay structure and the actions of individual supervisors. Ultimately the Court equated decisions related to pay with other personnel actions and requires employees to promptly file an alleged discriminatory action with the EEOC. When considered in the context of the limitations of the Equal Pay Act, the Ledbetter decision further tips the weighing of interests toward the employer.