An employer may defend its decision to pay employees differently if this difference is the result of ___________. An employer may defend its decision to pay employees differently if this difference is the result of ___________. an interest in hiring men because an employer's customers prefer to work with men an interest in hiring women because an employer's customers prefer to work with women a bona fide seniority, merit, or incentive system none of the above; men and women must be paid the same for performing the same work