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Massachusetts to adopt equal pay law to break pattern of unfair pay for women
Source: The Guardian
Massachusetts to adopt equal pay law to break pattern of unfair pay for women
First of its kind law will make it illegal for employers to inquire
about salary history and give leverage to employees who may try
to sue over unequal pay
Susan Zalkind in Boston
Tuesday 2 August 2016 17.18 BST
Massachusetts is set to adopt a first of its kind equal pay law – one that it’s supporters are lauding as the most thorough in the nation.
The law, signed by the Republican governor, Charlie Baker, on Monday after it unanimously passed the state legislature, will make it illegal for employers to inquire about salary or wage history. However, employees will be able to share their salary history if they choose to. Massachusetts is the first US state to bar inquiries into salary history.
The law is intended to break the pattern of unequal pay for women in the workforce, since employers will no longer be encouraged to low-ball female employees in negotiations who may have been paid unequally in their previous jobs.
“For too many generations women have done equally hard, equally skilled, and equally responsible work as men in the same workplace,” said state senator Pat Jehlen, one of the bill’s backers in a statement. “This is an important milestone on the journey toward equity for women and families all across this Commonwealth.”
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First of its kind law will make it illegal for employers to inquire
about salary history and give leverage to employees who may try
to sue over unequal pay
Susan Zalkind in Boston
Tuesday 2 August 2016 17.18 BST
Massachusetts is set to adopt a first of its kind equal pay law – one that it’s supporters are lauding as the most thorough in the nation.
The law, signed by the Republican governor, Charlie Baker, on Monday after it unanimously passed the state legislature, will make it illegal for employers to inquire about salary or wage history. However, employees will be able to share their salary history if they choose to. Massachusetts is the first US state to bar inquiries into salary history.
The law is intended to break the pattern of unequal pay for women in the workforce, since employers will no longer be encouraged to low-ball female employees in negotiations who may have been paid unequally in their previous jobs.
“For too many generations women have done equally hard, equally skilled, and equally responsible work as men in the same workplace,” said state senator Pat Jehlen, one of the bill’s backers in a statement. “This is an important milestone on the journey toward equity for women and families all across this Commonwealth.”
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Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/aug/02/massachusetts-equal-pay-law-women-salary-history