Pfizer Inc. agrees to pay $2M to resolve alleged compensation discrimination at New York City location

NEW YORK – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs has entered into a conciliation agreement with Pfizer Inc. to resolve alleged compensation discrimination affecting female employees at the federal contractor’s New York City headquarters.

A compliance review conducted by OFCCP covered the period from Jan. 1, 2015, to Dec. 31, 2016, and found that beginning on Jan. 1, 2015, Pfizer discriminated against 86 females in professional positions. These actions violated Executive Order 11246, which prohibits federal contractors from discriminating in employment decisions based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin.

Under the agreement, Pfizer will pay $2 million in back wages and interest to the affected female employees, set aside a separate $500,000 reserve required for future salary adjustments and do the following:

• Conduct compensation analysis for the affected groups.
• Make salary adjustments if any significant pay disparities are found based on gender.
• Review and revise its overall compensation system.
• Provide enhanced training to its managers to ensure future compliance.

“Our conciliation agreement with Pfizer signifies OFCCP’s efforts to bridge gender wage gaps and successfully achieve pay equality for women in the nation’s workforce,” said Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs Acting Director Michele Hodge.

Pfizer, an American multinational pharmaceutical corporation headquartered in New York City with research and development laboratories in Groton, Connecticut, has federal contracts with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Defense for large scale production of Covid-19 vaccines.

If you think you may be a class member affected, use OFCCP’s Class Member Locator to learn more about this and other settlements. Learn more about OFCCP, or call 800-397-6251.

The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs enforces Executive Order 11246, Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974. For more information, call the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs toll-free helpline at 800-397-6251.