Tuesday, March 25, is Equal Pay Consciousness Day and a very good reminder that we have to keep our robust state pay transparency legal guidelines. Pay transparency reduces wage discrimination for all employees.
The Seattle Occasions article “WA pay transparency lawsuits spark ‘cottage industry’ claims” (Feb. 23, Enterprise) highlighted an emotional backlash in opposition to our present pay transparency regulation. We agree we have to be cautious of rogue lawsuits that harass employers. As well as, we love our small group companies and wish them to thrive. However with out compliance with the present regulation that requires job postings to incorporate wage ranges, employees received’t have the data they want.
We all know labor legal guidelines are robust to implement, and they should have some “enamel.” Senate Invoice 5408 pulls the enforcement enamel from our regulation. We ask legislators to take extra time to analysis and craft amendments that steadiness employer and worker issues. For instance, the precise to remedy (repair a violation), if used, ought to apply solely to first-time violators.
Including an academic element to our pay transparency regulation, a Washington State Equal Pay Consciousness Act, can be a good way to have a good time Equal Pay Consciousness Day.
Sandra Ripley Distelhorst, public coverage chair, American Affiliation of College Ladies of Washington State
