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星期四, 7月 21, 2016

Senate and House Advance Compromise Pay Equity Legislation

Senate and House Advance Compromise Pay Equity Legislation
Legislation will be the strongest pay equity statute in the nation
BOSTON-Today the Massachusetts House and Senate advanced a compromise bill on pay equity to close the pay disparity between genders.  Currently in Massachusetts female workers are paid an average of 82% of what their male counterparts are paid for doing similar work. 
The House is proud to have brought together stakeholders to ensure that we created a workable solution that could be effectively implemented,” said House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo (D-Winthrop). “I want to offer my sincerest thanks to the legislators who have raised their voices and tenaciously pursued this issue for decades. Your work will shape a better and more just future for women in the Commonwealth.”
 “The Senate put pay equity on the Legislative agenda in January and I am pleased that we will soon move this compromise bill to the Governor’s desk.  This bill will protect women from discrimination in the workplace and close the gender pay gap,” said Senate President Stan Rosenberg (D-Amherst).  “I thank my colleagues in both the Senate and House for taking on this important issue for the people of the Commonwealth.”
“I’m proud that we all could come together to take this historic step in eliminating gender discrimination in wages,” said Speaker Pro Tempore Patricia A. Haddad (D-Somerset). “I thank Speaker DeLeo, Senate President Rosenberg, Attorney General  Maura Healey, House  Ways & Means Chair  Brian Dempsey, and my colleagues in the House and Senate in working with advocates and business leaders alike to craft a piece of legislation that will make a lasting difference.”
“I’m proud that the legislature has come to an agreement to strengthen our equal pay law to ensure equal pay for comparable work,” said Senate Committee on Ways and Means Chair Senator Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “Massachusetts was the first state to pass a pay equity law over seventy years ago, yet women in the Commonwealth still make a fraction of every dollar earned by a man. In January, the Senate unanimously passed the bill that I sponsored with Senator Jehlen to close this unacceptable gap, followed by the House this month. This legislation makes it clear that in Massachusetts, women working hard to support their families deserve fair pay.”
“I am so happy for my granddaughters, who will enter a much fairer workforce and won’t have to battle the same gender wage gap that has held back women’s salaries for too long,” said Senator Pat Jehlen (D-Somerville) and Senate sponsor of the bill.
“The legislation strengthens current law by defining the term “comparable work” within the Massachusetts Equal Pay Act to ensure comparable work is truly comparable in pay. Variations in pay may exist for comparable work if the difference is based on a bona fide merit system, seniority, a system that measures earnings based on production or sales or revenue, differences based on geographic location or education, training or experience reasonably related to the particular job.
The bill also protects employees from discrimination during the hiring process by preventing employers from requesting salary history in hiring, a measure designed to end the self-perpetuating cycle of wage disparity. Massachusetts would be the first state in the nation to adopt such a provision. However, prospective employees would not be barred from voluntarily disclosing their past salaries.  It also protects employees from any repercussions of discussing their current pay with their co-workers. 
The agreed upon legislation has been accept by both branches of the legislature and a final vote will be taken on Saturday before being sent to the Governor for his signature.

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