Rep. Tana Senn’s (D-Mercer Island) bill, EHB 1506, addressing workplace practices to achieve gender pay equity is a carryover from last session. The bill is scheduled for a hearing on Monday January 8, at 1:30 pm in the House Labor & Workplace Standards Committee.
The bill modifies the Equal Pay Act, enacted and unchanged since 1943, and prohibits an employer from discriminating in providing employment opportunities or unequal pay of those similarly employed based on gender. Employees are similarly employed based on the skill, effort, and responsibility of the job assigned. Job titles alone do not determine whether employees are similarly employed. The bill also provides a list of non-discriminatory practices that may result in compensation differences (i.e. merit or seniority).