A new federal law signed by President Obama will make it easier to sue an employer for wage discrimination. The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act is named after Lilly Ledbetter, who worked as a plant manager for Goodyear Tire but realized only after some years had passed that she was getting paid less than her male counterparts. When she sued for wage discrimination, the U.S. Supreme Court threw the case out, saying she had filed it too late – after the 180-day limit that began when the pay decision was first made.

The law overturns the Supreme Court decision. Now, employees alleging pay discrimination will be able to file a claim within 180 days of the issuance of any discriminatory paycheck … as opposed to 180 days from the first paycheck.