Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker has signed a bill, passed unanimously by both legislative branches, to ensure equal pay for comparable work for all workers in that state. The bill also provides equal opportunities to earn competitive salaries in the workplace.
Senate Bill 2119, An Act to Establish Pay Equity, adds prohibitions to the Federal Equal Pay Act at chapter 149, §105A(c) barring employers from asking about the applicant’s previous salary history, past benefits or any other component of compensation before receiving a formal job offer.
Under the new law, employers are permitted to take certain attributes of an employee or applicant into account when determining variation in pay, including: their work experience, education, job training, or measurements of production, sales or revenue.
As the law goes into effect in 2018, employment verification services for Massachusetts employment can no longer ask about previous salary, benefits or other elements of compensation with prior employers within the state.
