Co-Sponsorship Memo Details

2013-2014 Regular Session
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Pay Equity
December 2, 2013 03:22 PM to All Senate Members
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Photo of Senator Senator Rob Teplitz
Senator Rob Teplitz
D Senate District 15
Along With
Photo of Senator Sen. Anthony Williams
Sen. Anthony Williams
D Senate District 8
Memo
In the near future, we plan to introduce legislation that will amend Act 694 of 1959, known as the Equal Pay Law. 
 
Despite recent successes in establishing equality in the workplace, working women still face a significant gender wage gap.  In Pennsylvania, women are paid 77 cents for every dollar paid to men.  This adds up to a yearly gap of $10,867 between men and women who work full time in this commonwealth.  With over 500,000 households in the Commonwealth headed by women, the economic securities of these women, and the children who depend on them, are at risk. 
 
This bill will strengthen Pennsylvania law to eliminate the gender wage gap by increasing the protection to employees who have filed a complaint against an employer and prohibiting retaliation against employees for discussing wages (“pay secrecy”).
 
In addition, this legislation will close the “factor other than sex” defense to apply only to bona fide business related factors.  Bona fide factors other than sex include education, training, or experience.  In order to file a complaint, a plaintiff must still identify a comparable employee who makes more money for performing equal work, requiring effort, and responsibility under similar working conditions.
 
This bill is part of the Pennsylvania Agenda for Women’s Health, a comprehensive proposal to address the real health issues affecting Pennsylvania women today.
 
We ask you to join us in co-sponsoring this important legislation.
Legislation
Document - Introduced as SB 1212
Last updated on December 2, 2013 03:23 PM
Pay Equity
December 2, 2013 03:22 PM to All Senate Members

Circulated By
TEPLITZ and WILLIAMS

Memo
In the near future, we plan to introduce legislation that will amend Act 694 of 1959, known as the Equal Pay Law. 
 
Despite recent successes in establishing equality in the workplace, working women still face a significant gender wage gap.  In Pennsylvania, women are paid 77 cents for every dollar paid to men.  This adds up to a yearly gap of $10,867 between men and women who work full time in this commonwealth.  With over 500,000 households in the Commonwealth headed by women, the economic securities of these women, and the children who depend on them, are at risk. 
 
This bill will strengthen Pennsylvania law to eliminate the gender wage gap by increasing the protection to employees who have filed a complaint against an employer and prohibiting retaliation against employees for discussing wages (“pay secrecy”).
 
In addition, this legislation will close the “factor other than sex” defense to apply only to bona fide business related factors.  Bona fide factors other than sex include education, training, or experience.  In order to file a complaint, a plaintiff must still identify a comparable employee who makes more money for performing equal work, requiring effort, and responsibility under similar working conditions.
 
This bill is part of the Pennsylvania Agenda for Women’s Health, a comprehensive proposal to address the real health issues affecting Pennsylvania women today.
 
We ask you to join us in co-sponsoring this important legislation.

Document
Introduced as SB 1212

Last Updated
December 2, 2013 03:23 PM
Generated 03/22/2025 07:33 PM