A former human resources specialist with the state Department of Public Health has sued Connecticut, alleging it hired a man with less experience and paid him $11,000 more than she was making for a similar job with similar responsibilities.

In her federal lawsuit, filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut, Penelope Davis says she should have been compensated to match the salary that Steven Beaupre received after she complained to her supervisor. Davis, who began working with the department in 1999 and was promoted in 2008 to principal human resources specialist, alleges in the lawsuit that she is a victim of discrimination and unequal pay in violation of the federal Equal Pay Act and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

In her role, Davis helped direct the staff and operations of the Human Resources Office, performed labor relations activities and supervised a staff of up to five employees, her complaint states. She now works for the state Department of Social Services.