A Message from Chair Charlotte A. Burrows and Vice Chair Jocelyn Samuels in Remembrance of Lilly Ledbetter (April 14, 1938 – October 12, 2024)

At this time, we remember the inspiring life and legacy of Lilly Ledbetter, tireless advocate for pay equity. We had the honor of working with her on the bill that bears her name, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009, and on equal pay efforts at the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Lilly’s work to ensure equal pay began with her own experience of sex-based pay discrimination, and a jury found that she was paid less, and continually received smaller raises, than her male counterparts, even those whom she had trained. The cumulative effect over the course of Lilly’s career was significant, but because the Supreme Court adopted an unreasonably narrow interpretation of federal laws prohibiting pay discrimination, she never received fair compensation for her nearly two decades of work at the Goodyear plant in Gadsden, Alabama.  

By speaking out about the injustice she faced, she inspired Congress to overturn the Supreme Court’s decision.  Her selfless work empowered thousands of women across the country and made it possible for them to obtain a remedy for pay discrimination. By virtue of Lilly’s tenacity, the law now makes clear that each discriminatory paycheck issued by an employer starts the clock anew for an employee to be able to file a pay discrimination charge. 

We will miss her grit and her humor. And we will always remember her advice to “[n]ever underestimate the impact of small actions. Just one person can make a difference.” 

With persistence, a single person really can prompt transformative change. At the EEOC, we honor Lilly’s legacy by remaining steadfast in our commitment to pay equity.