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Official Website administered by the State Treasurer and Receiver General of Massachusetts

Deborah B. Goldberg

Program under Massachusetts State Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg

Massachusetts Law is a Big Step Forward in Equal Pay Movement

August 4, 2016

PBS // Ariane Hegewisch

Massachusetts recently passed the most robust equal pay law in the country. While other states have similar legislation on the docket, Massachusetts’ law is unique in three ways: it is the first bill to ban salary history from the hiring process, it encourages employers to adopt pay equity practices by providing leniency for genuine attempts in the interim, and allows for pay differences due to seniority but explicitly states that maternity leave cannot deduct from a woman’s seniority.