Opinion ID: 2787960
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Employment at FedEx

Text: Johnson, an African-American woman, was hired by FedEx on November 7, 1988. In 1996, she transferred to FedEx’s York, Pennsylvania station where she worked as a courier. Later, she voluntarily “down-bid” into a full-time position as a Senior Service Agent (“SSA”), which is where she remained until she resigned on June 17, 2013. SSAs are paid at a lower salary rate than couriers. For purposes of her EPA claim, Johnson used Craig Pooler, a Caucasian man, as her comparator. Johnson alleged that she and Pooler performed substantially identical work but that Pooler was paid more. Pooler’s job title is Courier/DOT/CDL, meaning that he is a courier with a commercial driver’s license who is certified by the Department of Transportation to operate a commercial motor vehicle. During the relevant time period, Pooler possessed a “Class B” commercial driver’s license, which permitted him to operate vehicles that have 1 This background includes facts presented at summary judgment as well as facts developed at trial. For purposes of reviewing the District Court’s entry of summary judgment, we have focused primarily on the record that existed at that stage of litigation. But see infra note 8. 2 a gross vehicle weight rating of greater than 26,000 pounds.2 He also had a hazardous material endorsement on his commercial driver’s license, which permitted him to transport hazardous materials.3 Pooler began working for FedEx in 1981 and is the most senior courier at the York station. Due to his experience as a courier in the York area who had run every route out of the station, Pooler was able to assist other couriers in anticipating traffic patterns and properly timing parcel deliveries. In contrast, Johnson never had a Class B commercial driver’s license and was not qualified to drive any FedEx vehicles during the relevant time period. According to Johnson, Pooler applied for and received a service agent position as a Service Assurance Leader (“SAL”) in 1997.4 She said that, at that time, FedEx’s rules permitted a higher-paid employee, such as a courier, to accept a temporary assignment as an SAL in order to meet station needs and retain higher pay.5 She also said that Pooler has remained in the SAL position since 1997 but has been paid at the higher courier rate, even though FedEx’s internal rules do not permit such an arrangement. Kathy Howell, a 2 Pooler stated that there are only six couriers at FedEx’s York station who have a Class B commercial driver’s license. He also stated that, to retain his Class B license, he was required to be tested on air brakes every four years, submit to a criminal background check, and submit to random drug testing. 3 Larry Bizzell, a FedEx employee specializing in corporate safety, stated that, to obtain a hazardous material endorsement, Pooler was required to undergo additional training and submit to a background check. 4 Johnson presented evidence that Pooler performed many of an SAL’s responsibilities and was even referred to as an SAL by certain FedEx employees. 5 According to Johnson, FedEx issued an order in 2001 stating that it would no longer permit couriers to work indefinitely on assignments as SALs. As a result, SALs were required to either down-bid to an SAA or return to the road as a courier. Pooler was apparently never required to down-bid. 3 Manager of Compensation at FedEx, stated that Pooler has never been classified as a service agent. Instead, he has only been classified as a Courier/DOT/CDL. FedEx’s Human Resources Manager, Nancy Harthun-Goard, stated that the main differences between service agent and courier job descriptions are that couriers must adhere to federally dictated licensing requirements and also that couriers are permitted to operate FedEx commercial vehicles outside and inside FedEx stations. Pursuant to the Courier/DOT/CDL job description, a courier’s duty is to deliver packages, but a courier also has the responsibility to perform all other related duties as assigned by the station management. In contrast, a service agent’s responsibilities include, but are not limited to, providing customer service over the phone and over the counter, performing cash and credit transactions, maintaining inventory of customer materials, generating various reports for management, and preparing documentation and manifests for freight. No service agent, regardless of type, may drive commercial vehicles for FedEx. Service agent positions such as SSAs and SALs share many of the same responsibilities with one another and share the same pay rate. During the relevant time period, Pooler operated a FedEx commercial vehicle multiple times per week. While he did not perform the duties of a full-time courier, he performed route protection, which means that he would perform deliveries to minimize other couriers’ late deliveries. Pooler would also pick up packages according to customer demands, make bulk deliveries, deliver spare trucks to stranded couriers, take expedited deliveries to couriers, fill in for terminated or ill couriers, deliver spare PowerPads (handheld tracking devices) to couriers on the road, and handle and deliver freight that 4 arrived after the responsible drivers had departed the station. Many FedEx employees stated that they recalled Pooler operating FedEx vehicles on a regular basis. In contrast, Johnson never drove a truck during the relevant time period. As mentioned above, Johnson alleged that she and Pooler performed substantially identical work but that Pooler was paid more. Again, as noted, under FedEx’s compensation structure, couriers are paid at a higher hourly rate than service agents. While Management at the York station does not determine compensation for different positions at FedEx, Johnson said that it can affect compensation by manipulating employees’ job designations, i.e., courier or service agent. Prior to her resignation, Johnson earned $22.16 per hour, which is the maximum hourly rate for her pay grade. In comparison, Pooler earned $24.38 per hour. In addition, Pooler enjoyed unlimited overtime hours as a courier, which permitted him to earn substantially more than Johnson even though their hourly wages were comparable. Johnson claims that by virtue of his employee designation, Pooler was able to accrue significant amounts of overtime even when he performed non-courier functions, such as those of a service agent. The parties agree that in 2011, Johnson was paid $43,153.07 while Pooler was paid $63,804.17. Similar pay discrepancies existed between Johnson and Pooler in 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2012.