Massachusetts Employers Meet to Learn State’s New Wage Transparency Requirements

Employers seeking to understand how the state's new wage transparency law can enable them to strengthen their workforce met at UMass Lowell on Wednesday, Oct. 30, for a forum presented by the Boston Women's Workforce Council (BWWC) and attended by state Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Lauren Jones.

Session speakers included Jones, UMass Lowell Chancellor Julie Chen, BWWC member Lisa Brothers, and Neha Gondal, all of whom discussed initial data obtained from the law.

Signed into law last year by Gov. Maura Healey, the 2024 Frances Perkins Workplace Equity Act aims to promote wage transparency by creating new reporting requirements for Massachusetts employers.

According to a UMass Lowell news release, the law is the first of its kind in the United States to require employers to proactively support wage parity, according to former lieutenant governor Evelyn Murphy, a co-chair of the BWWC and a pay equity advocate. 

Under the act, employers with 100 or more workers must submit federally mandated EEO wage data to the state. Employers with 25 or more employees must disclose pay ranges for every job opening. The state aggregates this data, creating a tool for employers to use as they recruit employees and determine wages, benefits, and career opportunities, according to the release.

During the meeting, panelists stressed that wage parity and transparency can help employers attract diverse talent, optimize workforce strategies, and promote brand messaging and career development.

“This wage data can be an available resource for employers to leverage as a workforce strategy to drive equity and affordability, and in turn, competitiveness for companies across Massachusetts,” Jones said.

The Bureau of Workplace Wage Compliance plans to hold additional forums in the coming weeks to educate more employers about the requirements of the new law.