WASHINGTON – This week, the House most likely will vote on the Ledbetter Fair Pay Act (H.R. 2831), which would extend the time frame a worker can file a discrimination claim against his employer.

Introduced in June by House Labor Committee Chairman George Miller (D-CA), the bill would eliminate the statute of limitations for all employment laws that protect employees from discrimination on the basis of sex, race, religion, age and disability. Not only can former employees file a claim years after having worked for a company, but their family members also can file claims related to discrimination in all aspects of compensation – not only pay, but retirement benefits, vacation time and bonuses.

Meanwhile, Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA) introduced a companion bill (S. 1843) on July 20 in the Senate.

Retailers support equal employment opportunity laws and oppose discriminatory behavior of any kind in the workplace. However, overly broad legislation that undermines the careful balance that the current statutes of limitation provide would clearly encourage frivolous lawsuits – and add unnecessary direct and indirect costs to employers.

Earlier this month, NACS signed a letter [PDF] to Congress opposing this legislation.