To: Governor Larry Hogan
MD Gov. Hogan: Sign The Equal Pay For Equal Work Legislation
Gov. Larry Hogan: please sign the landmark Equal Pay for Equal Work legislation – which now includes specific protections against discrimination on the basis of gender identity. It is a fair balance between protecting employees without unreasonably restricting employers. If you do not wish to sign it, please take no action and allow it to become the law of the State without your signature.
Why is this important?
The Honorable Larry Hogan
Governor, State of Maryland
Gov. Hogan:
As you are aware, quietly and almost completely under the media radar, the Maryland General Assembly overwhelmingly passed the "Labor and Employment – Equal Pay for Equal Work" legislation.
On behalf of Maryland voters who are also members of MoveOn.org, many of our other members, and many other men and women who hope Maryland will become one of the LEADING STATES on the issue of pay equality, I urge you to sign this bill into law. Failing that, please allow it to become the law of the State by taking no action.
Under the skilled sponsorship of Delegate Kriselda Valderrama and Senator Susan Lee, the legislation alters certain sections of the Labor and Employment Act to prohibit wage discrimination on the basis of gender identity; prohibit employers from discriminating against any employee by offering less favorable working opportunities on the basis of sex or gender identity; prohibits an employer – within certain preannounced limits – from preventing employees from discussing wages; and prohibits employers from retaliating against employees who make claims of discrimination and/or participate in such claims.
The legislation also strikes a balance by PROTECTING (or continuing to protect) employers' rights to differentiate in compensation on the basis of a nondiscriminatory seniority system; a nondiscriminatory merit system; jobs requiring different abilities or skills; shift work or jobs performed at different times of day; a nondiscriminatory performance-based measuring system; some other nondiscriminatory factor including work-related education, training, or experience.
Now, in its "FISCAL AND POLICY NOTE", The Department of Legislative Affairs indicated the net effect government-wide would be $5000 in Fiscal Year 2017 – funds one agency would need to prepare training materials for employers. All other agencies, courts, etc., could handle the legislative changes within their existing budgets.
The analysis did indicate, when it came to small businesses (later defined as businesses with fewer than 15 employees) that the impact was "Potential Meaningful (sic)." But when they expounded later, they noted "… to the extent that employees gather more information on wages, the bill may create pressure
on an employer to decrease or eliminate wage disparities." That cannot be a bad thing, because discrimination should NEVER be a part of doing business.
So you see, Governor, this legislation provides pay equality and proper remedies for employees while also protecting the legitimate business interests of employers. It is VERY GOOD for Maryland, and I urge you to make it the law of our great State.
If you or any members of your staff wish to contact me, please feel free to do so at the following email address:
[email protected]
[MoveOn members and other signatories may also feel free to email me at the same address with questions/comments/concerns. Please put "Equal Pay" in the Subject Line.]
Most Respectfully,
Maurice Miller
Takoma Park, MD
Governor, State of Maryland
Gov. Hogan:
As you are aware, quietly and almost completely under the media radar, the Maryland General Assembly overwhelmingly passed the "Labor and Employment – Equal Pay for Equal Work" legislation.
On behalf of Maryland voters who are also members of MoveOn.org, many of our other members, and many other men and women who hope Maryland will become one of the LEADING STATES on the issue of pay equality, I urge you to sign this bill into law. Failing that, please allow it to become the law of the State by taking no action.
Under the skilled sponsorship of Delegate Kriselda Valderrama and Senator Susan Lee, the legislation alters certain sections of the Labor and Employment Act to prohibit wage discrimination on the basis of gender identity; prohibit employers from discriminating against any employee by offering less favorable working opportunities on the basis of sex or gender identity; prohibits an employer – within certain preannounced limits – from preventing employees from discussing wages; and prohibits employers from retaliating against employees who make claims of discrimination and/or participate in such claims.
The legislation also strikes a balance by PROTECTING (or continuing to protect) employers' rights to differentiate in compensation on the basis of a nondiscriminatory seniority system; a nondiscriminatory merit system; jobs requiring different abilities or skills; shift work or jobs performed at different times of day; a nondiscriminatory performance-based measuring system; some other nondiscriminatory factor including work-related education, training, or experience.
Now, in its "FISCAL AND POLICY NOTE", The Department of Legislative Affairs indicated the net effect government-wide would be $5000 in Fiscal Year 2017 – funds one agency would need to prepare training materials for employers. All other agencies, courts, etc., could handle the legislative changes within their existing budgets.
The analysis did indicate, when it came to small businesses (later defined as businesses with fewer than 15 employees) that the impact was "Potential Meaningful (sic)." But when they expounded later, they noted "… to the extent that employees gather more information on wages, the bill may create pressure
on an employer to decrease or eliminate wage disparities." That cannot be a bad thing, because discrimination should NEVER be a part of doing business.
So you see, Governor, this legislation provides pay equality and proper remedies for employees while also protecting the legitimate business interests of employers. It is VERY GOOD for Maryland, and I urge you to make it the law of our great State.
If you or any members of your staff wish to contact me, please feel free to do so at the following email address:
[email protected]
[MoveOn members and other signatories may also feel free to email me at the same address with questions/comments/concerns. Please put "Equal Pay" in the Subject Line.]
Most Respectfully,
Maurice Miller
Takoma Park, MD