Rep. Michael Ferguson Hails Bipartisan Pay Equity Bill

 

State Rep. Michael Ferguson (R-138) strongly supported passage of a bipartisan pay equity bill that was approved overwhelmingly in the Connecticut House of Representatives on a vote of 142-4.

The legislation, House Bill 5386, An Act Concerning Various Pay Equity and Fairness Matters, aims to prevent unintended pay discrimination in the state. Under the bill, employers will be prohibited during a hiring process from inquiring about a prospective candidate’s previous salary history until an offer of employment with compensation has been offered. The legislation was crafted in a way to protect recruiters, employment agencies and to allow for a discussion of benefits and stock options if relevant to the position.

“This is a step toward eliminating the pay gap between men and women. The practice of setting pay based on a worker’s past salary exacerbates gender wage gaps: by inquiring about an applicant’s salary history, employers unknowingly continue a cycle of lower earnings that may have begun with just one inequitable pay decision much earlier in an applicant’s career,” said Rep. Ferguson.

According to public hearing testimony, during the interview process, if a potential employee has to answer how much they made at their previous job, the employer may start them at a higher salary proportionate to their past job but lower than the salary range that exists for the potential position.

Massachusetts, California, Oregon and Delaware have laws banning employers from asking the pay history of job candidates. New York City, Washington, D.C., New Orleans and Philadelphia have also followed suit.