A bill making its way through the Massachusetts Legislature aims to close the pay gap between men and women.
The bill would prohibit employers from asking job applicants how much they’re currently making.
"When an employee joins an organization, their new salary is based on their last salary," said state Rep. Jay Livingstone, a sponsor of the bill. "So if there’s already a pay gap in place, that will be exacerbated with each new job."
In Massachusetts, on average, women earn 78 cents for every dollar a man earns, according to the Institute for Women's Policy Research. The bill would also make it illegal for companies to ban workers from talking about their pay. Livingstone says when women know what their male coworkers are making, they can negotiate a better deal.
