Massachusetts Mandates Pay Transparency for Larger Employers

New law aims to address wage gaps and promote equity
By Newser.AI Read our AI policy
Posted Jul 31, 2024 9:00 PM CDT
Massachusetts Mandates Pay Transparency for Larger Employers
The Massachusetts Statehouse is seen in Boston on Jan. 2, 2019. Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey signed into law a bill Wednesday, July 31, 2024, requiring businesses with 25 or more employees to disclose a salary range when posting a job.   (AP Photo/Elise Amendola, File)

Massachusetts has enacted a new law mandating businesses with over 25 employees to disclose salary ranges in job postings. Signed by Governor Maura Healey on Wednesday, the legislation aims to bridge wage disparities, particularly for women and People of Color. Healey emphasized that this law represents a significant step in promoting equitable pay and enhancing the diversity and talent of workforces.

This move positions Massachusetts as the 11th state to implement such pay transparency measures. House Speaker Ronald Mariano highlighted that this legislation not only ensures equal pay for equal work but also enhances Massachusetts' competitiveness. This law extends a 2016 statute prohibiting gender-based wage discrimination.

The legislation requires businesses with more than 100 employees to share their federal wage and workforce data with the state's Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development. This data will help identify wage gaps by gender and race within industries. Associated Industries of Massachusetts supported the law, stating it balances open wage communication without imposing strenuous reporting tasks on employers.

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Enforcement of the law includes authority for the Attorney General's Office to issue fines or civil citations for violations and provisions to protect employees from retaliation when requesting salary range information. To raise public awareness, the Attorney General will spearhead an informational campaign about these new regulations. In Greater Boston, the current gender wage gap stands at 21 cents, with wider disparities seen among women of different racial backgrounds. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)

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