We previously reported on the Maine legislature’s consideration of a bill intended to lessen the gender pay gap in Maine. That bill, entitled “An Act Regarding Pay Equality,” has now received support from the majority of the legislature’s Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development Committee. It will now head to the Maine Senate for a vote.
The Act Regarding Pay Equality would strengthen the law against pay discrimination in two important ways. First, the bill would state that employers may not try to obtain information about a prospective employee’s wage history until after offering a compensation package to the prospective employee. As we previously explained, this part of the bill would help to prevent the effects of wage discrimination from following an employee from one job to another. Second, the bill would require employers to allow employees to share information about their own wages and other employees’ wages. This part of the bill is important because, without information about the wages other employees make, workers often do not know that they are victims of pay discrimination. In some situations it is already illegal for employers to prohibit the sharing of wage information but this bill would expand that prohibition and provide extra protection for workers.
Among New England states, Maine has the second highest gender pay gap. According to the National Partnership for Women & Families, in Maine women earn 22% less than men. Only New Hampshire has a bigger gender pay gap in New England. As we previously reported, other states have enacted legislation similar to this bill. Given the large gender pay gap in Maine, as compared to other New England states, it makes sense to pass legislation that could decrease the gap.
Regardless of whether the Act Regarding Pay Equality becomes law, it is a violation of both Maine and federal law to pay workers less because of their sex, race, national origin, age, and a host of other reasons as well. If you believe your employer is paying you less because of your sex, race, national origin, age, or some other discriminatory reason, contact the Maine Employee Rights Group for a consultation.