Mussman Backs Renewed Effort to Close the Wage Gap in Illinois

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – To help prevent wage discrimination in the workplace, state Rep. Michelle Mussman, D-Schaumburg, is co-sponsoring legislation aimed at addressing the wage gap between men and women in Illinois.

“I have continually advocated for wage equality in Illinois because women deserve equal pay for equal work – it really is as simple as that,” said Mussman. “Nobody should be paid less or discriminated against in the workplace because of their gender.” 

Mussman is co-sponsoring House Bill 834 to prevent employers from asking potential hires to submit their salary history, a practice that has been proven to disadvantage women.  According to the Institute of Women’s Policy Research, women in Illinois earn 79.3 centers for every dollar a man makes, and it is projected that Illinois will not close the gender wage gap until 2065.

Earlier this month, Gov. Pritzker signed an executive order requiring Illinois’ Central Management Services to implement pay equity provisions for state employees. The measure does not cover local governments or private employers.

“Men often make more than women, even starting in their first job. If a woman’s future pay is determined by her salary history, that can have a negative impact on her wages throughout her entire career,” continued Mussman. “While there is still a lot of work to be done to close the wage gap, this legislation will provide a smart, commonsense solution to prevent discriminatory hiring practices, and move us one step closer towards pay equality for women in Illinois.”

For more information, please contact Rep. Mussman’s constituent service office at 847-923-9104 or StateRepMussman@gmail.com.