Illinois state Sen. Win Stoller. | Senator Win Stoller/Facebook
Illinois state Sen. Win Stoller. | Senator Win Stoller/Facebook
Lawmakers in Springfield, Illinois, including Win Stoller, an Illinois state senator, supported the advancement of a measure that mandates employers to include a pay scale and anticipated benefits for every position advertised in job postings.
Stoller shared his experience and highlighted the importance of the legislation, according to the Belleville News-Democrat. He emphasized the need to maximize the skills and abilities of potential employees.
"As a small business owner, myself, we’ve had situations where we find the right person and we’ll restructure a department," Stoller said. "We’ll rearrange some roles to take into full account, to take full advantage of their skills and abilities."
The bill known as House Bill 3129, the Equal Pay Act, requires employers to disclose pay scales and aims to establish a regulatory structure within the Department of Labor to investigate violations of the proposed law. If passed, the legislation would apply to employers with 15 or more employees in Illinois. This requirement would extend to various platforms, including job board listings, newspaper ads, and postings made by third parties on behalf of employers.
Initially met with opposition from business groups, the measure has seen a shift in sentiment as organizations like the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association and the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, which initially expressed concerns, now show varying levels of support for the legislation.
The bill passed with a 35-19 vote in the Senate and will head to the House for further consideration.
The move toward pay scale disclosure legislation reflects a growing trend across the United States. Several states recently implemented or proposed similar measures to address wage disparities and empower job seekers with more information during their employment search.
By providing clearer guidelines and establishing penalties for non-compliance, lawmakers aim to foster a more equitable job market and promote fairness for employees, the Belleville News-Democrat reported.
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