Didech Votes to Ensure Women Representation on Corporate Boards, Highlights Pay Equity Day

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Committed to supporting women’s rights, state Rep. Daniel Didech, D-Buffalo Grove, voted to pass legislation that would require publicly owned corporations in Illinois to have at least one female and one minority member on its board of directors.

“While women and people of color are in executive roles within companies and government, more must be done to ensure equitable representation in the predominantly white and male world of corporate America,” Didech said. “This legislation is a step in the right direction as we continue working to remove barriers that often get in the way of talented individuals achieving personal and professional success.”

Didech sponsored House Bill 3394, which would require all publically held corporations with principal executive offices located in Illinois to have a minimum of one female director and one African-American director on its board of directors by 2020. The Didech-backed measure also requires the Secretary of State to publish a report about equitable representation.

Didech also recently voted for House Resolution 85, which draws attention to how far into the year a woman must work to earn what a male peer earned the prior year by designating April 2 as Pay Equity Day.

“These measures allow us to have an open discussion about how to address the inequities still present in our society, such as pay discrimination and lack of diversity,” Didech said. “I remain committed to supporting initiatives like these in order to move our state forward, creating a more equal and just society for women and our minority residents.”