ledbetter goodyear tire rubber argued november decided may time petitioner ledbetter employed respondent goodyear salaried employees plant worked given denied raises based performance evaluations ledbetter submitted questionnaire equal employment opportunity commission eeoc march formal eeoc charge july november retirement filed suit asserting among things sex discrimination claim title vii civil rights act district allowed title vii pay discrimination claim proceed trial ledbetter alleged several supervisors past given poor evaluations sex result pay increased much evaluated fairly past pay decisions affected amount pay throughout employment end employment earning significantly less male colleagues goodyear maintained evaluations nondiscriminatory jury found ledbetter awarding backpay damages appeal goodyear contended pay discrimination claim time barred regard pay decisions made september days ledbetter filed eeoc questionnaire discriminatory act relating pay occurred date eleventh circuit reversed holding title vii pay discrimination claim based allegedly discriminatory events occurred last pay decision affected employee pay eeoc charging period concluding insufficient evidence prove goodyear acted discriminatory intent making two pay decisions period denials raises held later effects past discrimination restart clock filing eeoc charge ledbetter claim untimely pp individual wishing bring title vii lawsuit must first file eeoc charge within relevant days alleged unlawful employment practice occurred addressing issue eeoc charge timeliness stressed need identify care specific employment practice issue ledbetter arguments paychecks received charging period raise denial violated title vii triggered new eeoc charging period fail require effect jettison defining element claim title vii recovery based discriminatory intent air lines evans delaware state college ricks lorance technologies national railroad passenger corporation morgan clearly instruct eeoc charging period triggered discrete unlawful practice takes place new violation occur new charging period commence upon occurrence subsequent nondiscriminatory acts entail adverse effects resulting past discrimination employer engages series separately actionable intentionally discriminatory acts fresh violation takes place act committed ledbetter makes claim intentionally discriminatory conduct occurred charging period discriminatory decisions occurring period communicated argues simply goodyear nondiscriminatory conduct charging period gave present effect discriminatory conduct outside period current effects alone breathe life prior uncharged discrimination ledbetter filed eeoc charge within days allegedly discriminatory employment decision made communicated attempt shift forward intent associated prior discriminatory acts pay decision unsound shift intent away act consummated discriminatory employment practice later act performed bias discriminatory motive imposing liability absence requisite intent argument also distort title vii integrated multistep enforcement procedure occidental life ins cal eeoc short eeoc filing deadline reflects congress strong preference prompt resolution employment discrimination allegations voluntary conciliation cooperation nothing title vii supports treating intent element ledbetter claim differently employment practice element claim pp bazemore friday per curiam concerned pay claim entirely consistent evans ricks lorance morgan bazemore rule employer violates title vii triggers new eeoc charging period whenever employer issues paychecks using discriminatory pay structure ledbetter contends paycheck accrual rule paycheck even accompanied discriminatory intent triggers new eeoc charging period complainant may properly challenge prior discriminatory conduct impacted paycheck amount matter long ago discrimination occurred ledbetter adduced evidence goodyear initially adopted pay system order discriminate based sex later applied system within charging period discriminatory animus bazemore help pp ledbetter paycheck accrual rule also supported either analogies statutory regimes equal pay act fair labor standards act national labor relations act policy arguments giving special treatment pay claims pp affirmed alito delivered opinion roberts scalia kennedy thomas joined ginsburg filed dissenting opinion stevens souter breyer joined lilly ledbetter petitioner year tire rubber company writ certiorari appeals eleventh circuit may justice alito delivered opinion case calls upon us apply established precedent slightly different context previously held time filing charge employment discrimination equal employment opportunity commission eeoc begins discriminatory act occurs explained rule applies iscrete ac discrimination including discrimination termination failure promote denial transfer refusal hire national railroad passenger corporation morgan decision discrete act follows period filing eeoc charge begins act occurs petitioner abandoned claim equal pay act asks us deviate prior decisions order permit assert claim title vii petitioner also contends discrimination pay different types employment discrimination thus governed different rule decision discrete act occurs particular point time arguments must rejected therefore affirm judgment appeals petitioner lilly ledbetter ledbetter worked respondent goodyear tire rubber company goodyear gadsden alabama plant much time salaried employees plant given denied raises based supervisors evaluation performance march ledbetter submitted questionnaire eeoc alleging certain acts sex discrimination july year filed formal eeoc charge taking early retirement november ledbetter commenced action asserted among claims title vii pay discrimination claim claim equal pay act epa district granted summary judgment favor goodyear several ledbetter claims including equal pay act claim allowed others including title vii pay discrimination claim proceed trial support latter claim ledbetter introduced evidence course employment several supervisors given poor evaluations sex result evaluations pay increased much evaluated fairly past pay decisions continued affect amount pay throughout employment toward end time goodyear paid significantly less male colleagues goodyear maintained evaluations nondiscriminatory jury found ledbetter awarded backpay damages appeal goodyear contended ledbetter pay discrimination claim time barred respect pay decisions made prior september days filing eeoc goodyear argued discriminatory act relating ledbetter pay occurred date appeals eleventh circuit reversed holding title vii pay discrimination claim based pay decision occurred prior last pay decision affected employee pay eeoc charging period appeals concluded insufficient evidence prove goodyear acted discriminatory intent making two pay decisions occurred within time span namely decision made deny ledbetter raise similar decision made ledbetter filed petition writ certiorari seek review appeals holdings regarding sufficiency evidence relation pay decisions rather sought review following question whether circumstances plaintiff may bring action title vii civil rights act alleging illegal pay discrimination disparate pay received statutory limitations period result intentionally discriminatory pay decisions occurred outside limitations period pet cert light disagreement among courts appeals proper application limitations period title vii pay cases compare forsyth federation employment guidance shea rice cadc granted certiorari ii title vii civil rights act makes unlawful employment practice discriminate individual respect compensation individual sex individual wishing challenge employment practice provision must first file charge eeoc charge must filed within specified period either days depending state alleged unlawful employment practice occurred employee submit timely eeoc charge employee may challenge practice addressing issue whether eeoc charge filed time stressed need identify care specific employment practice issue morgan ledbetter points two different employment practices possible candidates primarily urges us focus paychecks issued eeoc charging period period preceding filing eeoc questionnaire contends separate act discrimination alternatively ledbetter directs us decision denying raise argues decision unlawful carried forward intentionally discriminatory disparities prior years reply brief petitioner arguments fail require us effect jettison defining element legal claim title vii recovery based ledbetter asserted disparate treatment central element discriminatory intent see chardon fernandez per curiam teamsters watson fort worth bank trust blackmun joined brennan marshall concurring part concurring judgment challenge focuses exclusively intent employer however ledbetter assert relevant goodyear decisionmakers acted actual discriminatory intent either issued checks eeoc charging period denied raise rather argues paychecks unlawful larger evaluated nondiscriminatory manner prior eeoc charging period brief petitioner similarly maintains decision unlawful carried forward effects prior uncharged discrimination decisions reply brief petitioner essence suggests sufficient discriminatory acts occurred prior charging period continuing effects period brief petitioner ach paycheck offers woman less pay similarly situated man sex separate violation title vii limitations period regardless whether paycheck simply implements prior discriminatory decision made outside limitations period see also reply brief petitioner argument squarely foreclosed precedents air lines evans rejected argument basically ledbetter evans forced resign airline refused employ married flight attendants file eeoc charge regarding termination years later airline rehired treated new employee seniority purposes evans sued arguing suit based original discrimination time barred airline refusal give credit prior service gave present effect past illegal act thereby perpetuate consequences forbidden discrimination agreed evans airline seniority system indeed continuing impact pay fringe benefits noted critical question whether present violation exist ed ibid emphasis original concluded continuing effects precharging period discrimination make present violation justice stevens wrote entitled treat evans termination lawful respondent failed file charge discrimination within days allowed discriminatory act made basis timely charge merely unfortunate event history present legal consequences ibid difficult speak point directly equally instructive delaware state college ricks concerned college librarian ricks alleged discharged race march ricks denied tenure given final nonrenewable contract expired june ricks delayed filing charge eeoc april argued eeoc charging period ran date actual termination rather date tenure denied rejecting argument recognized one effects denial tenure namely ultimate termination occur later emphasis original ricks failed identify specific discriminatory act continued occurred time actual termination employment held eeoc charging period ran time tenure decision made communicated ricks approach dictated outcome lorance technologies grew change way seniority calculated agreement employees plant question accrued seniority based simply years employment plant new agreement made seniority workers highly paid traditionally male position tester depend time spent position alone positions plant several years later female testers laid due low seniority calculated new provision filed eeoc charge alleging scheme adopted discriminatory intent namely protect incumbent male testers women substantial plant seniority began move traditionally male tester positions held plaintiffs eeoc charge timely filed within specified period adoption new seniority rule noted plaintiffs alleged new seniority rule treated men women differently rule applied discriminatory manner rather complaint rule adopted originally discriminatory intent evans ricks held eeoc charging period ran time discrete act alleged intentional discrimination occurred date effects practice felt stated claimed invalidity facially nondiscriminatory neutrally applied tester seniority system wholly dependent alleged illegality signing underlying agreement date signing governs limitations period recent decision area confirms understanding morgan explained statutory term employment practice generally refers discrete act single takes place particular point time pointed termination failure promote denial transfer refusal hire examples discrete acts held title vii plaintiff file charge cover discrete acts within appropriate time period instruction provided evans ricks lorance morgan clear eeoc charging period triggered discrete unlawful practice takes place new violation occur new charging period commence upon occurrence subsequent nondiscriminatory acts entail adverse effects resulting past discrimination course employer engages series acts intentionally discriminatory fresh violation takes place act committed see morgan supra ledbetter arguments paychecks received charging period raise denial violated title vii triggered new eeoc charging period reconciled evans ricks lorance morgan ledbetter noted makes claim intentionally discriminatory conduct occurred charging period discriminatory decisions occurred prior period communicated instead argues simply goodyear conduct charging period gave present effect discriminatory conduct outside period brief petitioner current effects alone breathe life prior uncharged discrimination held evans effects present legal consequences ledbetter filed eeoc charge within days allegedly discriminatory pay decision made communicated paychecks issued days prior filing eeoc charge provide basis overcoming prior failure effort circumvent need prove discriminatory intent charging period ledbetter relies intent associated decisions made persons times reply brief petitioner intentional discrimination occurs differential treatment takes place even intent engage conduct discriminatory purpose made previously ledbetter attempt take intent associated prior pay decisions shift pay decision unsound shift intent one act act consummates discriminatory employment practice later act performed bias discriminatory motive effect shift impose liability absence requisite intent cases recognize point evans example take airline discriminatory intent discharged plaintiff sex attach intent later act neutrally applying seniority rules similarly ricks take discriminatory intent college allegedly possessed denied ricks tenure attach intent subsequent act terminating employment nonrenewable contract ran contrary held alleged discrimination occurred filing limitations periods therefore commenced time tenure decision made communicated ricks ledbetter argument effectively eliminate defining element claim distort title vii integrated multistep enforcement procedure occidental life ins cal eeoc previously noted legislative compromises preceded enactment title vii mohasco silver eeoc commercial office products stevens joined rehnquist scalia dissenting respectful legislative process crafted scheme must give effect statute enacted mohasco supra repeatedly rejected suggestions extend truncate congress deadlines see electrical workers robbins myers union grievance procedures toll eeoc filing deadline alexander arbitral decisions foreclose access following timely filed eeoc complaint statutes limitations serve policy repose american pipe constr utah represent pervasive legislative judgment unjust fail put adversary notice defend within specified period time right free stale claims time comes prevail right prosecute kubrick quoting railroad telegraphers railway express agency eeoc filing deadline protect employers burden defending claims arising employment decisions long past ricks supra certainly eeoc charging deadline short measure choosing obviously quite short deadlines congress clearly intended encourage prompt processing charges employment discrimination mohasco supra short deadline reflects congress strong preference prompt resolution employment discrimination allegations voluntary conciliation cooperation occidental life supra alexander supra claim comprises two elements employment practice discriminatory intent nothing title vii supports treating intent element ledbetter claim differently employment practice anything concerns regarding stale claims weigh heavily respect proof intent associated employment practices practices example case plaintiff claim concerns denial raises employer challenged acts decisions increase employee pay times question almost always documented typically even dispute contrast employer intent almost always disputed evidence relating intent may fade quickly time cases much evidence intent circumstantial thus critical issue case involving performance evaluation often whether evaluation far mark sufficient inference discriminatory intent drawn see watson blackmun joined brennan marshall concurring part concurring judgment noting claim mcdonnell douglas factors establish discrimination inference see also zhuang datacard rejecting inference discrimination performance evaluations cooper southern subtle determination passage time may seriously diminish ability parties factfinder reconstruct actually ledbetter contends employers protected equitable doctrine laches congress plainly think laches sufficient context indeed congress took diametrically different approach including title vii provision allowing months cases file charge eeoc ultimately experience teaches strict adherence procedural requirements specified legislature best guarantee evenhanded administration law mohasco operation title vii claim time barred filed within time limits morgan electrical workers therefore reject suggestion employment practice committed improper purpose discriminatory intent rendered unlawful nonetheless gives effect intentional discriminatory act occurred outside charging period ledbetter claim reason untimely iii advancing two theories ledbetter seriously contest logic evans ricks lorance morgan set rather argues decision bazemore friday per curiam requires different treatment claim relates pay ledbetter focuses specifically statement ach week paycheck delivers less black similarly situated white wrong actionable title vii argues bazemore adopted paycheck accrual rule paycheck even accompanied discriminatory intent triggers new eeoc charging period complainant may properly challenge prior discriminatory conduct impacted amount paycheck matter long ago discrimination occurred reading bazemore dispensed need prove actual discriminatory intent pay cases without giving hint repudiated different approach taken previously evans ricks ledbetter interpretation unsound bazemore concerned pay claim brought north carolina agricultural extension service service service employees originally segregated white branch branch latter receiving less pay two branches merged title vii extended public employees black employees brought suit claiming pay disparities attributable old dual pay scale persisted appeals rejected claim interpreted difference salaries affirmatively eliminated reversed per curiam opinion members joined justice brennan separate opinion see opinion concurring part justice brennan wrote error appeals respect salary disparities created prior perpetuated thereafter obvious warrant extended discussion extension service discriminated respect salaries prior time covered title vii excuse perpetuating discrimination extension service became covered title vii hold otherwise effect exempting liability employers historically greatest offenders rights blacks pattern practice constituted violation title vii fact statute yet become effective became violation upon title vii effective date extent employer continued engage act practice liable statute recovery may permitted acts discrimination extent discrimination perpetuated liability may imposed emphasis original far adopting approach ledbetter advances passage made point obvious warrant extended discussion ibid namely employer adopts facially discriminatory pay structure puts employees lower scale race employer engages intentional discrimination whenever issues check one disfavored employees employer adopts intentionally retains pay structure surely regarded intending discriminate basis race long structure used bazemore thus entirely consistent prior precedents justice brennan opinion took care point noting evans turned whether present violation exist ed justice brennan stated bazemore plaintiffs alleging defendants ha date act forward made employment decisions wholly nondiscriminatory way emphasis original internal quotation marks brackets omitted say engaged fresh discrimination justice brennan added holding sense ave legal effect actions consistent evans focuse present salary structure illegal mere continuation discriminatory pay structure emphasis added sentence justice brennan opinion ledbetter chiefly relies comes directly passage quoted makes similarly obvious point week paycheck delivers less black similarly situated white wrong actionable title vii regardless fact pattern begun prior effective date title vii words freestanding violation may always charged within charging period regardless connection violations repeated point recently morgan existence past acts employee prior knowledge occurrence bar employees filing charges related discrete acts long acts independently discriminatory charges addressing acts timely filed neither opinions stands proposition action comprising employment practice alleged discriminatory intent separately chargeable related past act discrimination ledbetter attempts eliminate obvious inconsistencies interpretation bazemore line cases ground none latter cases involved pay raises logic prior cases fully applicable pay cases take evans example employee unlawfully terminated caused lose seniority loss seniority affected wages among things eniority determine flight attendant wages duration timing vacations rights retention event layoffs rights thereafter rights preferential selection flight assignments relationship past discrimination adverse present effects evans thus argument ledbetter urges us accept necessarily commanded different outcome evans bazemore stands proposition employer violates title vii triggers new eeoc charging period whenever employer issues paychecks using discriminatory pay structure new title vii violation occur new charging period triggered employer issues paychecks pursuant system facially nondiscriminatory neutrally applied lorance fact precharging period discrimination adversely affects calculation neutral factor like seniority used determining future pay mean new paycheck constitutes new violation restarts eeoc charging period ledbetter adduced evidence goodyear initially adopted pay system order discriminate basis sex later applied system within charging period discriminatory animus bazemore help rather ledbetter alleged goodyear agents discriminated individually past discrimination reduced amount later paychecks ledbetter file timely eeoc charges relating employer discriminatory pay decisions past maintain suit based past discrimination time dissent also argues pay claims different principal argument pay discrimination claim like hostile work environment claim types claims cumulative effect individual acts post analogy overlooks critical conceptual distinction two types claims although dissent relies heavily morgan dissent argument fundamentally inconsistent morgan reasoning morgan distinguished discrete acts discrimination hostile work environment discrete act discrimination act constitutes separate actionable employment temporally distinct morgan examples identified termination failure promote denial transfer refusal hire hostile work environment hand typically comprises succession harassing acts may actionable addition hostile work environment claim said occur particular day words actionable wrong environment individual acts taken together create contrary dissent assertion post ledbetter alleged single wrong consisting succession acts instead alleged series discrete discriminatory acts see brief petitioner arguing payment paycheck constituted separate violation title vii independently identifiable actionable morgan perfectly clear employee alleges serial violations series actionable wrongs timely eeoc charge must filed respect discrete alleged violation fundamental misinterpretation morgan alone sufficient show dissent approach must rejected also noted dissent coy whether apply rule pay discrimination claims whether limit rule cases like ledbetter multiple discriminatory pay decisions alleged dissent relies fact ledbetter allegedly subjected series discriminatory pay decisions period time dissent suggests realize time victimized pay cases share characteristics seems likely dissent apply rule pay cases single discriminatory pay decision made years ago continued affect employee pay today dissent presumably hold employee file timely eeoc charge today dissent presumably allow even employee full knowledge circumstances relating decision time dissent appears proposes adopt special rule pay cases based particular characteristics one case certainly representative pay cases may even typical refuse take approach iv addition arguments previously discussed ledbetter relies largely analogies statutory regimes extrastatutory policy arguments support paycheck accrual rule ledbetter places significant weight epa enacted contemporaneously title vii prohibits paying unequal wages equal work sex stating lower courts routinely hear epa claims challenging pay disparities first arose outside limitations period ledbetter suggests hold title vii violated time employee receives paycheck reflects past discrimination brief petitioner simple answer argument epa title vii particular epa require filing charge eeoc proof intentional discrimination see asking whether alleged inequality resulted factor sex ledbetter originally asserted epa claim claim dismissed district us ledbetter pursued epa claim face title vii obstacles ledbetter appeal fair labor standards act flsa equally unavailing stating well established statute limitations violations minimum wage overtime provisions flsa runs anew paycheck brief petitioner ledbetter urges true title vii pay case however ledbetter argument overlooks fact flsa minimum wage overtime claim require proof specific intent discriminate see establishing overtime rules cf establishing statute limitations flsa claims except claims willful violation may commenced within years ledbetter firmer ground suggesting look cases arising national labor relations act nlra since nlra provided model title vii remedial provisions like title vii requires filing timely administrative charge national labor relations board suit may maintained lorance ford motor eeoc cf complaint shall issue based upon unfair labor practice occurring six months prior filing charge board ledbetter argues nlra statute limitations begins anew paycheck reflecting prior violation statute precedents suggest otherwise machinists nlrb held conduct occurring within limitations period charged unfair labor practice reliance earlier unfair labor practice use earlier unfair labor practice merely serves cloak illegality otherwise lawful interpretation corresponds closely analysis evans ricks supports holding present case ledbetter finally makes variety policy arguments favor giving alleged victims pay discrimination time required file charge eeoc among things claims pay discrimination harder detect forms employment position evaluate ledbetter policy arguments prerogative change way title vii balances interests aggrieved employees interest encouraging prompt processing charges employment discrimination mohasco interest repose ledbetter policy arguments giving special treatment pay claims find support statute inconsistent apply statute written means unlawful employment practice including involving compensation must presented eeoc within period prescribed statute reasons judgment appeals eleventh circuit affirmed ordered lilly ledbetter petitioner goodyear tire rubber company writ certiorari appeals eleventh circuit may justice ginsburg justice stevens justice souter justice breyer join dissenting lilly ledbetter supervisor goodyear tire rubber plant gadsden alabama retirement years worked area manager position largely occupied men initially ledbetter salary line salaries men performing substantially similar work time however pay slipped comparison pay male area managers equal less seniority end ledbetter woman working area manager pay discrepancy ledbetter male counterparts stark ledbetter paid per month lowest paid male area manager received per month highest paid see brief petitioner ledbetter launched charges discrimination equal employment opportunity commission eeoc march formal administrative complaint specified violation title vii goodyear paid discriminatorily low salary sex see rendering unlawful employer discriminate individual respect compensation individual sex charge eventually tried jury found likely goodyear paid ledbetter unequal salary sex app accord jury liability determination district entered judgment ledbetter backpay damages plus counsel fees costs appeals eleventh circuit reversed relying goodyear system annual raises held ledbetter claim relevant part time barred title vii provides charge discrimination shall filed within days alleged unlawful employment practice occurred ledbetter charged proved trial within period pay substantially less pay men work introduced evidence sufficient establish discrimination female managers gadsden plant performance inadequacies part accounted pay differential see app evidence unavailing eleventh circuit held today agrees incumbent ledbetter file charges time goodyear failed increase salary commensurate salaries male peers annual pay decision contested immediately within days affirms becomes grandfathered fait accompli beyond province title vii ever repair insistence immediate contest overlooks common characteristics pay discrimination pay disparities often occur ledbetter case small increments cause suspect discrimination work develops time comparative pay information moreover often hidden employee view employers may keep wraps pay differentials maintained among supervisors less reasons differentials small initial discrepancies may seen meet federal case particularly employee trying succeed nontraditional environment averse making waves pay disparities thus significantly different adverse actions termination failure promote refusal hire involving fully communicated discrete acts easy identify discriminatory see national railroad passenger corporation morgan disparity becomes apparent sizable future raises calculated percentage current salaries employee ledbetter situation likely comprehend plight therefore complain initial readiness give employer benefit doubt preclude later challenging current continuing payment wage depressed account sex questions time title vii identified critical inquiries constitutes employment practice practice precedent suggests lower courts overwhelmingly held unlawful practice current payment salaries infected discrimination practice occurs whenever paycheck delivers less woman similarly situated man see bazemore friday brennan joined members concurring part title vii proscribes unlawful employment practice discrimination individual respect compensation individual race color religion sex national origin individual seeking challenge employment practice proscription must file charge eeoc within days alleged unlawful employment practice occurred see ante supra ledbetter petition presents question important sound application title vii activity qualifies unlawful employment practice cases discrimination respect compensation one answer identifies decision decision alone unlawful practice view particular decision discrete prior subsequent decisions must challenged within days pain forfeiture another response counts decision actual payment discriminatory wage unlawful practices approach payment wage salary infected discrimination constitutes unlawful employment practice prior decisions outside period actionable relevant determining lawfulness conduct within period adopts first view see ante second faithful precedent tune realities workplace respectful title vii remedial purpose bazemore unanimously held employer north carolina agricultural extension service committed unlawful employment practice time paid black employees less similarly situated white employees opinion brennan extension service divided two branches white branch negro branch employees negro branch paid less white counterparts response civil rights act included title vii state merged two branches single organization made adjustments reduce salary disparity began giving annual raises based nondiscriminatory factors nonetheless salary disparities continued linger internal quotation marks omitted rejected appeals conclusion plaintiffs prevail lingering disparities simply continuing effect decision lawfully made prior effective date title vii see rather reasoned ach week paycheck delivers less black similarly situated white wrong actionable title vii paychecks perpetuating past discrimination thus recognized actionable simply related decision made outside period cf ante discriminate anew time issue see bazemore morgan subsequently morgan set apart purposes title vii timely filing requirement unlawful employment actions two kinds discrete acts easy identify discriminatory acts recur cumulative impact see iscrete ac termination failure promote denial transfer refusal hire explained day party therefore must file charge within days date act lose ability recover see iscrete discriminatory acts actionable time barred even related acts alleged timely filed charges discrete discriminatory act starts new clock filing charges alleging ifferent kind discrete acts made clear claims based cumulative effect individual acts morgan decision placed hostile work environment claims category nature involves repeated conduct ibid unlawful employment practice hostile work environment claims said occur particular day occurs series days perhaps years direct contrast discrete acts single act harassment may actionable ibid internal quotation marks omitted persistence discriminatory conduct indicates management known existence produces cognizable harm ibid nature hostile work environment claim involves repeated conduct matter purposes statute component acts hostile work environment fall outside statutory time period provided act contributing claim occurs within filing period entire time period hostile environment may considered purposes determining liability consequently although unlawful conduct began past charge may filed later date still encompass whole ibid pay disparities kind ledbetter experienced closer kinship hostile work environment claims charges single episode discrimination ledbetter claim resembling morgan rested one particular paycheck cumulative effect individual acts see see also brief petitioner analogizing ledbetter claim recurring cumulative harm issue morgan reply brief petitioner distinguishing pay discrimination easy identify discrete acts internal quotation marks omitted charged insidious discrimination building slowly steadily see brief petitioner initially line salaries men performing substantially work ledbetter salary fell percent behind male counterparts successive evaluations pay adjustments see supra time alleged proved repetition pay decisions undervaluing work gave rise current discrimination complained though component acts fell outside period new paycheck goodyear contributed incrementally accumulating harm see morgan bazemore cf hanover shoe shoe machinery realities workplace reveal discrimination respect compensation ledbetter suffered fit within category singular discrete acts easy identify worker knows immediately denied promotion transfer fired refused employment promotions transfers hirings firings generally public events known employer makes decision open definitive character employee immediately seek explanation evaluate pretext compensation disparities contrast often hidden sight unusual decisions point illustrate management decline publish employee pay levels employees keep private salaries see goodwin general motors plaintiff know colleagues earned printout listing salaries appeared desk seven years starting salary set lower salaries mcmillan massachusetts soc prevention cruelty animals plaintiff worked employer years learning salary disparity published newspaper tellingly record case bears goodyear kept salaries confidential employees limited access information regarding colleagues earnings app problem concealed pay discrimination particularly acute disparity arises female employee flatly denied raise male counterparts given larger raises received pay increase female employee unlikely discern experienced adverse employment decision may little reason even suspect discrimination pattern develops incrementally ultimately becomes aware disparity even employee suspects reason comparatively low raise performance sex another protected ground amount involved may seem small employer intent ambiguous make issue immediately actionable winnable separating pay claims discrete employment actions identified morgan employer gains pay disparities way discriminatory denial promotion hiring transfer male employee selected female higher level position someone still gets promotion paid higher salary employer enriched woman paid less similarly situated man employer reduces costs time pay differential implemented furthermore decisions promotions like decisions installing seniority systems often implicate interests employees way pay differentials cf teamsters recognizing seniority systems involve vested rights employees concluding title vii intended destroy water rights disparate pay contrast remedied time solely expense employer acts discriminatory fashion light significant differences pay disparities discrete employment decisions type identified morgan cases relies hold sway see ante discussing air lines evans delaware state college ricks lorance technologies evans ricks involved single immediately identifiable act discrimination evans constructive discharge ricks denial tenure case employee filed charges well discrete discriminatory act occurred airlines forced evans resign policy barring married female flight attendants filed charge four years later evans rehired allege airline former rule unlawful therefore operate deny seniority credit prior service see evans similarly delaware state college denied ricks tenure object terminal contract came end one year later ricks repetitive cumulative discriminatory employment practice issue either case see evans ricks lorance also inapposite view involved discrete act adoption new seniority system genesis sex discrimination see internal quotation marks omitted extensive reliance lorance ante moreover perplexing decision longer effective civil rights act congress superseded lorance holding stat codified amended repudiating judgment facially neutral seniority system adopted discriminatory intent must challenged immediately congress provided purposes section unlawful employment practice occurs seniority system adopted individual becomes subject seniority system person aggrieved injured application seniority system provision system ibid congress thus agreed dissenters lorance harsh reality decision glaringly odds purposes title vii opinion marshall see also stat civil rights act designed respond recent decisions expanding scope relevant civil rights statutes order provide adequate protection victims discrimination true civil rights act directly addressed seniority systems see ante congress made clear view unduly contracted scope protection afforded title vii civil rights statutes aim generalize ruling bazemore senate report accompanying proposed civil rights act precursor act explained alleged lorance employer adopts rule decision unlawful discriminatory motive application rule decision new violation law bazemore example properly held application th racially motivated salary structure new paycheck constituted distinct violation title vii section generalizes result correctly reached bazemore civil rights act see also cong rec sponsors interpretative memorandum legislation interpreted disapproving extension lorance contexts outside seniority cf ante relying lorance conclude employer issues paychecks pursuant system facially nondiscriminatory neutrally applied new title vii violation occur internal quotation marks omitted today years since congress amended title vii relied upon lorance mistaken congress goals enacting title vii never included conferring absolute immunity discriminatorily adopted seniority systems survive first days marshall dissenting congress never intended immunize forever discriminatory pay differentials unchallenged within days adoption assessment gains weight one comprehends even relatively minor pay disparity expand exponentially employee working life raises set percentage prior pay clue congressional intent found title vii backpay provision statute expressly provides backpay may awarded period two years discrimination charge filed back pay liability shall accrue date two years prior filing charge prescription indicates congress contemplated challenges pay discrimination commencing continuing filing period see morgan congress intended limit liability conduct occurring period within party must file charge seems unlikely congress allowed recovery two years recognized morgan fact congress expressly limited amount recoverable damages elsewhere particular time period two years indicates timely filing provision meant serve specific limitation conduct may considered ibid tune realities wage discrimination courts appeals overwhelmingly judged present violation payment wages infected discrimination paycheck less amount payable employer adhered nondiscriminatory compensation regime courts held constitutes cognizable harm see forsyth federation employment guidance paycheck given within period actionable even based discriminatory pay scale set outside statutory period shea rice cadc employer commit separate unlawful employment practice time pa ys one employee less another discriminatory reason citing bazemore goodwin general motors bazemore taught crucial distinction respect discriminatory disparities pay establishing discriminatory salary merely lingering effect past discrimination instead continually recurring violation ach discriminatory salary payment constitutes fresh violation title vii omitted anderson zubieta cadc courts appeals repeatedly reached conclusion pay discrimination actionable upon receipt paycheck accord hildebrandt illinois dept natural resources cardenas massey ashley boyle famous corned beef en banc hughes training gibbs pierce county law enforcement support agency similarly line characteristics pay discrimination eeoc federal agency responsible enforcing title vii see interpreted act permit employees challenge disparate pay time received eeoc compliance manual provides repeated occurrences discriminatory employment action discriminatory paychecks challenged long one discriminatory act occurred within charge filing period eeoc compliance manual cf title vii requires employer eliminate pay disparities attributable discriminatory system even system discontinued eeoc given effect interpretation series administrative decisions see albritton potter wl eeoc office fed operations although disparity arose employee became aware disparity outside period claim time barred ach paycheck complainant receives less similarly situated employees outside protected classes support claim title vii discrimination found reason pay discrepancy citing bazemore see also winter wl eeoc office fed operations july ward potter wl eeoc office fed operations mar case eeoc urged eleventh circuit recognize ledbetter failure challenge particular decision decision made deprive right seek relief discriminatory paychecks received brief eeoc support petition rehearing suggestion rehearing en banc hereinafter eeoc brief citing morgan ii asserts treating pay discrimination discrete act limited particular decision necessary protec employers burden defending claims arising employment decisions long past ante quoting ricks discrimination ledbetter complained long past alleged jury found goodyear continued treat ledbetter differently sex pay period mounting harm allowing employees challenge discrimination extend long periods time period previously explained leave employers defenseless unreasonable prejudicial delay morgan employers disadvantaged delay may raise various defenses doctrines waiver estoppel equitable tolling allow us honor title vii remedial purpose without negating particular purpose filing requirement give prompt notice employer quoting zipes trans world airlines see defense laches may invoked block employee suit unreasonably delays filing charges result harms defendant eeoc brief ledbetter unreasonably delayed challenging earlier decision delay significantly impaired goodyear ability defend goodyear raise defense laches argument asserts dissent allow plaintiff sue single decision made years ago even employee full knowledge circumstances relating decision time made ante suffices point defenses noted make suit foolhardy sensible judge tolerate inexcusable neglect see morgan cases federal courts discretionary power locate result light circumstances peculiar case internal quotation marks omitted ledbetter observes ante dropped alternative remedy pursued persisted pressing claim equal pay act epa encountered time see ante ledbetter pursued epa claim face title vii obstacles confronts cf corning glass works brennan notably epa provides relief pay discrimination charged based race religion national origin age disability thus truncating title vii rule announced bazemore disarm female workers achieving redress unequal pay impede racial minorities gaining similar furthermore difference epa prohibition paying unequal wages title vii ban discrimination regard compensation large opinion might suggest see ante key distinction title vii requires showing intent practical effect trier fact equipoise whether wage differential motivated gender discrimination title vii compels verdict employer epa compels verdict plaintiff sullivan zimmer white employment discrimination law practice ed case ledbetter carried burden persuading jury pay disparity suffered attributable intentional sex discrimination see supra infra page iii show far strayed interpretation title vii fidelity act core purpose return evidence ledbetter presented trial ledbetter proved jury following member protected class performed work substantially equal work dominant class men compensated less work disparity attributable discrimination see supra specifically ledbetter evidence demonstrated current pay discriminatorily low due long series decisions reflecting goodyear pervasive discrimination women managers general ledbetter particular ledbetter former supervisor example admitted jury ledbetter pay particular period fell goodyear minimum threshold position app although goodyear claimed pay disparity due poor performance supervisor acknowledged ledbetter received top performance award jury also heard testimony another supervisor evaluated ledbetter whose evaluation led recent raise denial openly biased women two women previously worked managers plant told jury subject pervasive discrimination paid less male counterparts one paid less men supervised ledbetter testified discriminatory animus conveyed plant officials toward end career instance plant manager told ledbetter plant need women women help caused problems weighing evidence jury found ledbetter concluding pay disparity due intentional discrimination yet decision discrimination ledbetter proved redressable title vii every pay decision immediately challenge wiped slate clean consideration may given cumulative effect series decisions together set pay well every male area manager knowingly carrying past pay discrimination forward must treated lawful conduct ledbetter may compensated lower pay fact receiving complained eeoc still employed goodyear gain proof presented trial injunctive relief requiring prospectively receipt compensation men receive substantially similar work approbation consequences totally odds robust protection workplace discrimination congress intended title vii secure see teamsters primary purpose title vii assure equality employment opportunities eliminate discriminatory practices devices internal quotation marks omitted albemarle paper moody purpose title vii make persons whole injuries suffered account unlawful employment first time ordered cramped interpretation title vii incompatible statute broad remedial purpose see supra see also wards cove packing atonio superseded part civil rights act price waterhouse hopkins plurality opinion lindemann grossman employment discrimination law ed spate decisions late drew congressional fire resulted demands legislative change culminating civil rights act omitted ball congress legislature may act correct parsimonious reading title vii reasons stated hold ledbetter claim time barred reverse eleventh circuit judgment footnotes parties assume eeoc charging period runs backwards date questionnaire even though ledbetter discriminatory pay claim added july formal charge likewise assume sake argument filing questionnaire rather formal charge appropriate date lorance congress amended title vii cover specific situation involved case see allowing title vii liability arising intentionally discriminatory seniority system time adoption time application dissent attaches great significance amendment suggesting shows lorance wrongly reasoned initial matter post opinion ginsburg however legislative history cited dissent explains amendment title vii amendments ed scope relevant civil rights statutes order provide adequate protection victims discrimination post emphasis added present purposes important amendment question applied adoption discriminatory seniority system types employment discrimination evans ricks upon lorance relied employed identical reasoning left place decisions sufficient support holding today course may instances elements forming cause action span days say instance employer forms illegal discriminatory intent towards employee act days later charging period begin run employment practice executed day point employee cause action act intent yet joined contrast ledbetter cause action fully formed present time discriminatory employment actions taken point sued dissent dismisses concern post case illustrates problems created tardy lawsuits ledbetter claims sex discrimination turned principally misconduct single goodyear supervisor ledbetter testified retaliated rejected sexual advances early falsified deficiency reports work misconduct ledbetter argues principal basis performance evaluation brief petitioner see also stressing supervisor misconduct yet time trial supervisor died therefore testify timely charge might permitted evidence weighed contemporaneously focus bazemore current violation carrying forward past act discrimination made clearly side opinion appeals majority holds effect pattern discriminatory salaries challenged originated applicable provisions civil rights act made payment illegal effects earlier pattern presumably indefinitely maintained basis considered assessing challenge continuation pattern hazelwood evans indeed made clear employer found liable sanctioned remedy employment decisions made declared illegal claimant lost right action lapse time reason generally true title vii imposed obligation affirmatively remedy present effects discrimination whether composing work force otherwise cases thought insulate employment decisions presently illegal basis one time comparable decisions legal made particular employer therefore one thing say employer upon effective date title vii finds racially unbalanced need act affirmatively redress balance quite another say may also continue make discriminatory hiring decisions means present work force composed may short principle continue practices violative simply one time bazemore friday phillips concurring part dissenting part emphasis original footnotes omitted briefs filed bazemore friday per curiam elucidate point petitioners described service conduct continued use racially explicit base wage brief petitioner bazemore et al bazemore friday brief also properly distinguished commission discrete discriminatory act continuing adverse results intentional carrying forward discriminatory pay system brief federal petitioners bazemore friday nos case involves former latter moreover proposed hostile salary environment claim go far beyond morgan limits morgan still required least acts predicate hostile work environment claim occur within charging period provided act contributing claim occurs within filing period entire time period hostile environment may considered emphasis added dissent permit claims one acted way improper motive charging period post dissent admits much responding employer resort equitable doctrines laches post first noted congress already determined defense insufficient supra second far clear suit filed dissent theory alleging paycheck paid recently within charging period freestanding violation title vii reflected effects discrimination even barred laches magistrate judge recommended dismissal ledbetter epa claim ground goodyear demonstrated pay disparity resulted ledbetter consistently weak performance sex app pet cert magistrate judge also recommended dismissing title vii claim basis ledbetter objected magistrate judge disposition title vii epa claims arguing magistrate judge improperly resolved disputed factual issue see plaintiff objections magistrate judge report recommendation record doc district sustained objection disparate pay claim without specifically mentioning epa claim dismissed magistrate judge basis see app pet cert record entirely clear appears point ledbetter elected abandon epa claim proceeding trial title vii claim thus giving rise dispute must resolve previously declined address whether title vii suits amenable discovery rule national railroad passenger corporation morgan ledbetter argue rule change outcome case occasion address issue ledbetter argues eeoc endorsement approach compliance manual administrative adjudications merits deference previously declined extend chevron deference compliance manual morgan supra similarly decline defer eeoc adjudicatory positions eeoc views question based misreading bazemore see amft mineta wl eeoc office fed operations apr albritton postmaster general wl eeoc office fed operations agencies special claim deference interpretation decisions reno bossier parish school see reasonable ambiguity statute makes distinction compensation sorts claims clearly requires discrete employment actions alleged unlawful motivated individual sex footnotes complainant first instituted proceedings state local agency filing period extended days days denial relief agency period applies ledbetter case figure used throughout see ante national railroad passenger corporation morgan emphasizes required act contributing claim occu within filing period ante emphasis deleted internal quotation marks omitted paycheck within filing period compounded discrimination ledbetter encountered thus contributed actionable wrong succession acts composing pattern discriminatory pay complained see also bierman gely love sex politics sure salary way workplace social norms law berkeley emp lab private sector employers adopted specific rules prohibiting employees discussing wages one ten employers adopted pay openness policy also relies machinists nlrb like evans ricks concerned discrete act execution collective bargaining agreement containing union security clause machinists undisputed national labor relations act nlra union employer may agree union security clause time original execution union represent majority employees bargaining unit complainants however failed file charge within nlra charge filing period instead filed charges months execution agreement objecting subsequent enforcement see thus evans ricks contrast ledbetter case employment decision issue easily identifiable occurred single day senate report submitted civil rights act material respects identical proposed act dismisses eeoc considerable experience informed judgment firefighters cleveland internal quotation marks omitted unworthy deference case see ante eeoc interpretations mirror workplace realities merit least respectful attention event level deference due eeoc academic question agency conclusion ledbetter claim time barred best reading statute even interpreting title vii scratch see edelman lynchburg college see supra eeoc appropriately recognized brief eleventh circuit ledbetter failure challenge particular pay raises within period significantly limit relief seek waiting file charge ledbetter lost opportunity seek relief discriminatory paychecks received late eeoc brief see also supra epa subject fair labor standards act time prescriptions claim charging denial equal pay accrues anew paycheck lindemann grossman employment discrimination law ed cf prescribing statute limitations violations generally limitation period willful violations example today decision black supervisor initially received salary white colleagues annually received smaller raises right sue title vii outside window following annual salary change however strong cumulative evidence discrimination might thus force plaintiffs many cases sue soon prevail cutting time barred pay differential large enough enable mount winnable case given abundant evidence tenably maintain ledbetter case turned principally misconduct single goodyear supervisor see ante