Gov. Dannel P. Malloy on Thursday introduced a bill that would forbid employers from having pay secrecy policies.
Malloy said such policies — under which employees can face disciplinary action or be fired for telling coworkers what they earn — makes it difficult to pinpoint pay discrimination.
“Pay secrecy practices ultimately encourage discrimination and perpetuate the gender wage gap,” Malloy said in a statement. “Women deserve the same pay for the same work.”
Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman called the pay secrecy policies insidious and harmful to women and minorities.
Malloy and Wyman cited 2010 research that found that approximately half of U.S. workers were governed by pay secrecy rules.
As of last year, 10 states had enacted similar laws banning the practice.
