The state of Washington is taking measures to end wage discrimination. On June 7, 2018, the Washington Equal Pay Opportunity Act will go into effect. House Bill 1506 amends the Washington Equal Pay Act to “address income disparities, employer discrimination, and retaliation practices, and to reflect the equal status of all workers in Washington state.”
The new legislation prohibits employers from paying different wages based on gender between “similarly employed” employees. The term “similarly employed” means the performance of the job requires similar skill, effort and responsibility, and the jobs are performed under similar working conditions for the same employer.
This statute goes beyond federal equal pay legislation to provide additional protections for employees and to impose restrictions on employers. An employer who violates the new law will be guilty of a misdemeanor.
