What aspect of employment does the Equal Pay Act address?

The Equal Pay Act specifically addresses the issue of compensation in the workplace, focusing on the requirement that men and women be given equal pay for equal work in the same establishment. This law was enacted to combat wage discrimination based on sex, ensuring that all employees receive fair compensation for their contributions regardless of gender. The act requires that pay differentials among employees performing similar jobs are justifiable only under certain circumstances, such as seniority, merit, quantity, or quality of production, or any factor other than sex.

While hiring and firing practices are important aspects of employment law, the Equal Pay Act does not directly target these areas. Instead, its primary concern is ensuring equitable pay practices to close the wage gap between genders. Hence, the emphasis on compensation is the core of the Equal Pay Act's purpose.