WASHINGTON – This morning, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) responded to President Obama’s announcement of a new proposal requiring companies with 100 employees or more to submit pay data according to gender, race, and ethnicity. In April of last year, Fischer introduced a bill to strengthen the nation’s equal pay laws. The legislation, known as S.2200 The Workplace Advancement Act, would protect employees who discuss their salaries with their coworkers. Senator Fischer released the following statement this morning:
“The way to make meaningful, lasting progress on equal pay for women isn’t unilateral presidential action. I remain fully committed to forging a bipartisan consensus in Congress to update our laws and ensure women and men have the information they need to negotiate the salaries they deserve.
“Knowledge is power, and I believe my legislation, the Workplace Advancement Act, which has a strong record of bipartisan support, is the best way forward. I urge the president to step up and work with, not around, Congress to make a difference in the lives of working families.”
Since 1963, the Equal Pay Act and the Civil Rights Act of 1964 have required equal pay for equal work. Senator Fischer’s Workplace Advancement Act would update current law by prohibiting employers from retaliating against workers who inquire about, or discuss, salaries at work. Fischer’s bill would make it clear that employees have the right to ask how their salary compares to that of their peers, without fear of retaliation.
According to a January 2014 Institute for Women’s Policy Research/Rockefeller survey, roughly half of all workers reported the discussion of their wages and salaries is “discouraged or prohibited and/or could lead to punishment.” This same study also found “pay secrecy appears to contribute to the gender gap in earnings.”
The language in Senator Fischer’s legislation is similar to President Obama’s executive order from April 2014. While the president’s directive was limited to federal contractors, the Workplace Advancement Act would go further by providing protection for private sector employees.
Senator Fischer has been a strong advocate for bipartisan solutions to prevent gender-based pay discrimination since entering the U.S. Senate. In April of 2014, Fischer first filed her non-retaliation proposal as an amendment to the Paycheck Fairness Act. It did not receive a vote in the Democrat-controlled Senate.
In 2015, she offered this proposal as an amendment to the budget resolution, where it passed with the support of the following Democrat senators: Angus King (I-Maine), Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), and Mark Warner (D-Va.). Fifty-three Republican senators voting at the time also supported the proposal.
“The way to make meaningful, lasting progress on equal pay for women isn’t unilateral presidential action. I remain fully committed to forging a bipartisan consensus in Congress to update our laws and ensure women and men have the information they need to negotiate the salaries they deserve.
“Knowledge is power, and I believe my legislation, the Workplace Advancement Act, which has a strong record of bipartisan support, is the best way forward. I urge the president to step up and work with, not around, Congress to make a difference in the lives of working families.”
Since 1963, the Equal Pay Act and the Civil Rights Act of 1964 have required equal pay for equal work. Senator Fischer’s Workplace Advancement Act would update current law by prohibiting employers from retaliating against workers who inquire about, or discuss, salaries at work. Fischer’s bill would make it clear that employees have the right to ask how their salary compares to that of their peers, without fear of retaliation.
According to a January 2014 Institute for Women’s Policy Research/Rockefeller survey, roughly half of all workers reported the discussion of their wages and salaries is “discouraged or prohibited and/or could lead to punishment.” This same study also found “pay secrecy appears to contribute to the gender gap in earnings.”
The language in Senator Fischer’s legislation is similar to President Obama’s executive order from April 2014. While the president’s directive was limited to federal contractors, the Workplace Advancement Act would go further by providing protection for private sector employees.
Senator Fischer has been a strong advocate for bipartisan solutions to prevent gender-based pay discrimination since entering the U.S. Senate. In April of 2014, Fischer first filed her non-retaliation proposal as an amendment to the Paycheck Fairness Act. It did not receive a vote in the Democrat-controlled Senate.
In 2015, she offered this proposal as an amendment to the budget resolution, where it passed with the support of the following Democrat senators: Angus King (I-Maine), Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), and Mark Warner (D-Va.). Fifty-three Republican senators voting at the time also supported the proposal.
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