Colorado businesses have been required to provide equal pay to employees performing the same work since 2021. But many women say they still face pay discrimination in the workplace.
Lawmakers are trying to address these gaps with Senate Bill 105. If enacted, the bill would implement measures to enforce the state's existing Equal Pay for Equal Work Act and make other updates to the law.
The Senate approved SB 105 on Thursday, advancing it to the House for consideration.
"Women across the board earn way less for the exact same work. We can do better," said bill sponsor Sen. Jessie Danielson, D-Wheat Ridge. "I hope that (pay inequality) is a thing of the past by the time my daughter enters the workforce. ... That she can be proud that we, the state of Colorado, took steps to address that discrimination."
Colorado passed the Equal Pay for Equal Work Act in 2019, taking effect on Jan. 1, 2021. The 2019 law was sponsored by Danielson and Sen. Janet Buckner, D-Aurora, who are also both sponsoring the new SB 105.
The Equal Pay for Equal Work Act included several mandates intended to even the playing field for workers, such as requiring employers to notify employees of promotion opportunities, including pay or a pay range in job postings and allowing employees to sue employers for gender-based pay discrepancies.
In 2021, women working full-time in Colorado were paid 83% of what men earned, according to the Women’s Foundation of Colorado. That’s higher than 78% in 2020 before the...
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