U.S. Pay Equity Laws Miss Key Components to Promote Fairness and Help Businesses Comply, Says New Report from Syndio & Fair Pay Workplace

New report analyzes legislation from all 50 states and outlines 10 criteria for more effective laws

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Mar 11, 2021, 10:10 ET

SEATTLE, March 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- U.S. federal and state pay equity laws all lack at least some of the key components to make the laws effective for employees and feasible for companies to comply, according to a new report. Syndio, a leading EquityTech analytics platform with a mission to ensure fairness and equity are part of every employment decision, and Fair Pay Workplace, a nonprofit organization offering a transparent and trusted certification standard for employers dedicated to true pay equity, today released, The State of Pay Equity Laws in the U.S.—2021.

In the nearly 60 years since the federal Equal Pay Act of 1963 was signed into legislation, 44 states have enacted pay equity laws. Yet, despite the passage of these well-intentioned laws, progress on closing the pay gap in the U.S. has stalled. The report from Syndio and Fair Pay Workplace outlined 10 components that any law should include to ensure fair pay, and make it possible for companies to comply.

"Despite a growing number of state and federal rules encouraging pay equity, the U.S. is persistently behind in closing the pay gap," said Maria Colacurcio, CEO of Syndio. "Many laws stifle employers' ability to make progress on pay equity, while others have flaws that don't fully protect the people who are not being paid fairly. To move the needle on pay equity, it's important to ensure any new laws protect the rights of individuals and are feasible for companies."

The report analyzes legislation from all 50 states and other countries to answer several questions around how pay equity laws within the U.S. vary; how other countries legislate on pay equity; and what makes an effective pay equity law.

The report can be downloaded here.

About Syndio
Syndio's mission is to empower employers to eradicate unlawful pay disparities due to gender, race, and ethnicity and make ongoing compensation decisions informed by fairness and equity data. Syndio customers drastically reduce legal risk, saving millions in ongoing remediation and create a positive brand reputation, which helps attract and retain top talent at every level of the business. Syndio is proud to partner with brands who are leading the way in equity and setting the standard for workplace fairness.

About Fair Pay Workplace
Fair Pay Workplace is a nonprofit that certifies organizations that comply with a set of pay equity Rules and Standards set forth by an alliance of experts, and advances the interest of promoting fairness and justice in the workplace.

SOURCE Syndio