Currently, Massachusetts law prohibits all employers in the state from:

• Discriminating in the payment of wages as between the sexes;
• Paying any person a salary or wage rate less than the rates paid to employees of the opposite sex for work of like or comparable character, or work on like or comparable operations; and
• Retaliating against an employee for making a complaint or participating in any proceeding relating to a claim that the employer violated the state’s equal pay laws.

Effective July 1, 2018, the amended Massachusetts Pay Equity Act modifies these requirements and also prohibits employers from:

• Requiring employees to refrain from discussing their own or other employees’ wages;
• Screening job applicants based on wage or salary history; and
• Requesting information about applicants’ prior wages.

The MPEA is administered and enforced by the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD). Effective July 1, 2018, individuals who believe their rights under the amended MPEA have been violated may either file a complaint with the MCAD or sue the employer in court.

Review the attached bulletin for details on the requirements of this act and contact your NEEBCo representative with any questions you may have.

Massachusetts Fair Employment Laws – Pay Equity Act