The difference in equal pay between women and men is the gap in the average earnings of workers based on their gender. According to a 2021 report from Payscale, women in the U.S. earn 82 cents for every dollar men make, based on the median salary of all workers. However, when accounting for factors such as education, experience, location, and industry, the gap shrinks to 2 cents, meaning that women earn 98 cents for every dollar men make. https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2023/03/01/the-enduring-grip-of-the-gender-pay-gap/.
Colorado’s new law, the Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, which went into effect on January 1, 2021, is designed to address and prevent wage discrimination based on sex (including gender identity) and to increase pay transparency. The law has several provisions that can be a game changer for workers and employers in Colorado, such as:
• Prohibiting employers from seeking prospective employees’ wage rate histories or relying on them to set salarieshttps://www.natlawreview.com/article/what-employers-need-to-know-about-colorado-s-new-equal-pay-act.
• Allowing employees subject to wage discrimination to file a civil action and seek economic damages, including liquidated damages and attorneys’ fees. https://www.natlawreview.com/article/what-employers-need-to-know-about-colorado-s-new-equal-pay-act.
• Requiring employers to announce all opportunities for promotion or advancement to all current employees on the same calendar day and prior to making a promotion decision. https://www.natlawreview.com/article/what-employers-need-to-know-about-colorado-s-new-equal-pay-act.
• Requiring employers to disclose the hourly or salary compensation, or a range of the compensation, and a general description of all benefits and other compensation for each job posting. https://www.natlawreview.com/article/what-employers-need-to-know-about-colorado-s-new-equal-pay-act.
• Requiring employers to keep records of job descriptions and wage rate history for each employee for at least two years. https://www.natlawreview.com/article/what-employers-need-to-know-about-colorado-s-new-equal-pay-act.
These provisions aim to ensure that employees are paid fairly and equally for substantially similar work, regardless of their sex. They also aim to provide more information and opportunities for employees to advance their careers and negotiate their pay. They also aim to hold employers accountable for any pay disparities and discrimination that may occur.We need more states to follow Colorado’s example and ensure equal pay for everyone. This is why Gen Z’s and millennials have to vote and elect officials who care about our interests. If we don’t, we’ll be stuck with this issue for the next hundred years. Register and vote and elect officials who work for you and your family.”
Pres1 Research Team
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