Legal Definitions - front pay

Front pay is a type of compensation awarded to an employee who has experienced discrimination or retaliation in the workplace. It is the money given to the employee for the lost compensation that they would have received if they had not been discriminated against or retaliated against.

For example, if an employee was wrongfully terminated from their job due to discrimination, they may be awarded front pay to compensate for the wages they would have earned if they had not been terminated. This compensation is measured from the date of the trial onward until the court comes to a decision.

Front pay is different from back pay, which is the compensation awarded for lost wages that occurred before the trial. The ultimate goal of front pay is to financially compensate the plaintiff for any lost wages as a result of discrimination or retaliation.