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Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf decided to address the gender wage gap that is hurting women, families and businesses. Currently, women are still paid significantly less than men doing the same work in the state.

On Wednesday, Gov. Wolf signed an executive order ending the practice of state agencies requiring job applicants to provide their salary history during the hiring process. He also encourage the General Assembly to pass a similar legislation to protect all working women in the state.

In a statement, Gov. Wolf said, “The gender wage gap is wrong. “It’s wrong for women, wrong for families, wrong for business, and wrong for the economy of Pennsylvania.”

Additionally, the governor emphasized that he is ending the discriminatory practice in hiring through the executive order. It will ensure that the wage gap will not follow women to a state job and they will get the salary they deserve.

Furthermore, Gov. Wolf said, “All women deserve this same protection, but with federal inaction, the state must take steps to close the gap. Working together, we can ensure that equal pay for equal work is a reality in Pennsylvania.”

Details of the Executive Order

Under the governor’s executive order, Equal Pay for Employees of the Commonwealth, state agencies under his jurisdiction will:

• No longer ask job applicants their salary history during the hiring process;
• Base salaries on job responsibilities, position pay range, and the applicant’s job knowledge and skills;
• Clearly explain the pay range on job postings.

The Executive Order applies to management-level positions and takes effect in 90 days.

Pennsylvania Republican leadership refuses to consider legislation to combat gender wage gap

State Senator Christine Tartaglione noted that in 1959 theLegislature passed a law to correct the gender wage gap. After almost 60 years, Pennsylvania women are “still getting short-changed.”

She pointed out, “Women with the same education, training, skills, and job responsibilities as their male counterparts should be paid the same. But that’s still not happening.”

On the other hand, Sen. Judy Schwank said, “We must support efforts to recognize the equal value of work without regard to the worker’s gender…”

Meanwhile, Rep. Brian Sims commented that he “introduced legislation to combat pay inequity in Pensylvania every year. However, the “Republican leadership prohibits its consideration.”