Hernandez Fighting to Ensure Equal Pay for Equal Work

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Elizabeth “Lisa” Hernandez, D-Cicero, member of the Latino Caucus, is fighting for pay equity by supporting legislation that prohibits employers from paying employees who have equal experience and are in identical roles, different wages. Hernandez is also working to raise awareness around the issue by supporting legislation that declares April 4 as ‘Pay Equity Day’.

“Equal pay for equal work needs to be more than just a slogan. It needs to be the law,” said Hernandez. “Women generally earn less than men, so if you ask female candidates about their pay history, it could lock them into lower salaries, which is why this bill is an important step toward equality.”

Hernandez is a chief sponsor of House Bill 2462, which would prohibit employers from paying employees who do the same job and have the same experience a different wage. Among other things, Hernandez’s legislation would restrict employers from asking candidates about past wages or salaries during the application process.

Massachusetts recently enacted similar legislation and Philadelphia became the first city to ban private sector employers from asking job applicants about their salary history.

Hernandez is also sponsoring House Resolution 124, which would declare April 4 as ‘Pay Equity Day’ in Illinois. Pay Equity Day was created by the National Committee on Pay Equity in 1996 as a public awareness event to illustrate how far into the year women must work to earn the same as men did the previous year. According to the Census Bureau, women who work full-time, year-round, make about 79 cents for every dollar men earn, a gap which widens even further for women of color, particularly Latinas.

“In these tough economic times, most households have both parents working to provide for their families, so pay equity is necessary,” said Hernandez. “I urge all of my colleagues to support these efforts to provide more financial stability to middle-class families and ensure that parents can support their families and invest in their children’s futures.”

State Rep. Elizabeth “Lisa” Hernandez is a member of the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus and represents the 24th District, which includes Cicero, Little Village, Berwyn, Brookfield, Riverside, and Stickney.