The federal agency referred to as the EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) is charged with ensuring that employees are not discriminated against by their employers or prospective employers. One of the primary laws enforced by the EEOC is the Equal Pay Act of 1963. This law requires that both men and women receive equal pay for equal work. The law specifically prohibits "sex-based wage discrimination between men and women in the same establishment who perform jobs that require substantially equal skill, effort and responsibility under similar working conditions". This law does not, of course, guarantee that every person performing the same job will make the same amount of money, as issues such as seniority, experience and education can affect pay levels as well. As an employee, EEOC should be your primary resource for information and for determining how to handle a situation where you believe you have been the victim of discrimination.