Today, Equal Pay Day, State Senator Pat Billie Miller (D-Stamford) is showing her support for HB 6380, An Act Concerning the Disclosure of Salary Range for a Vacant Position. Senator Miller originally introduced this concept as HB 6270 this session to the Labor and Public Employees Committee which was changed to Committee bill, HB 6380.
HB 6380 focuses on bringing more transparency into the workplace. It would require employers to disclose salary ranges for vacant positions and to provide comparable pay for comparable work.
“The discrimination against women in the workforce needs to end,” said Sen. Miller. “Everyone deserves an equal opportunity to obtain a comparable salary as their peers. A person’s gender should have nothing to do with the salary they receive. With certain regulations in place, women will be able to have more of a transparent overview of where they align in their positions against their co-workers who have the exact same responsibilities as they do.”
As our state continues to respond to and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, it is critical that Connecticut remain a leader in gender equity and pass legislation that actively works to close the gender wage gap. Today’s date, March 24, symbolizes how far into the year women on average must work to earn what men earned in the previous year. Women, especially women of color, continue to earn significantly less than men. On average, women in Connecticut earn approximately $0.84 cents to every dollar paid to men. This legislation builds upon existing laws and is a key step towards pay transparency
Secrecy around salary ranges harms all workers, especially women and people of color. Research shows that women often ask for less when they negotiate than men, even when they are equally qualified and applying for similar jobs as their male counterparts. Since women and people of color are paid less than white, non-Hispanic men, they would need to ask for a substantial percentage increase to reduce the wages gaps making salaries more equitable. Providing applicants with a salary range that the employer is willing to pay helps level the negotiating playing field, which can reduce gender wage gaps. Most importantly, salary range transparency builds trust amongst employers, employees, and potential candidates.
If HB 6380 is enacted into law, this legislation will put Connecticut on the trajectory to closing our gender wage gap and contribute to a more inclusive work environment.
