Jones-Sponsored Measure to Prevent Wage Discrimination Passes House

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Thaddeus Jones, D-Calumet City, is fighting to end wage discrimination by passing legislation requiring employers to pay the same wage to workers who have the same experience and do the same job.

“Women have historically faced wage discrimination in the workplace, which has resulted in many families being unable to escape poverty,” Jones said. “Women of color have been especially impacted by the wage gap, even being paid on average less than women of other races.”

Jones’s House Bill 2462 prohibits employers from paying different salaries to employees who do the same job and have the same experience. His measure also makes it illegal for an employer to require potential employees to reveal their past wage or salary during the job application process. The goal of his legislation is to address the fact that women and minorities have historically been paid less. Massachusetts and the City of Philadelphia recently enacted similar legislation.

“This year, women will be paid on average 79 cents for every dollar earned by a man and black women will on average only be paid 65 cents for every dollar earned by a white man,” Jones said. “The protections in this bill will help female and minority workers in Illinois by closing the wage gap and putting more money in the pockets of working families.”