WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Labor Department says drugmaker AstraZeneca will pay $250,000 to settle claims that it discriminated against female employees who were paid less than their male counterparts.
The London-based company will make payments to 124 current and former female sales associates in the Philadelphia area. Labor officials claim the women earned an average of $1,700 less than men holding the same jobs.
The agency says AstraZeneca violated antidiscrimination regulations that apply to government contractors.
AstraZeneca spokesman Tony Jewell says the company made no admission of wrongdoing and agreed to settle the case to avoid further legal proceedings.
The company also agreed to analyze employee salaries in 13 other states and Washington, D.C., to make sure women are not being underpaid.
