(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Illinois will have a new Salary Transparency Law on the books starting January 1, and the minimum wage goes up again. Advocates for Women says laws in the workplace are helping level the field.
The new salary law requires sizable companies to disclose salary ranges and benefits for jobs they post. Many already do.
Sharmili Majmudar, executive vice-president of the group Women Employed, is glad that progress is being made on paid family leave too.
“Illinois's law, which is also called the Paid Leave for All Workers Act, went into effect on January 1 of 2024, so this will be the first year anniversary of that. Chicago's ordinance went into effect on July 1 of 2024,” Majmudar said.
“And so these laws give you up to five days of paid time off that you can use for any reason.”
She knows some businesses resist, but is undeterred.
“Look, working people need to be able to take time off without feeling like they are risking their job or their paycheck. And too often they're placed in this position of making what are really impossible decisions, right?
“‘Do I take care of my child or do I ensure we have enough food on the table?’ Those are not decisions people should have to make.”
However, her group is interested in other initiatives that might help older women in the workplace.
She says many employers who think of women over 50 are talking about retirement, but she says many women work decades longer than that, and there are special considerations.
“Women have value, just as much as men do, as they age with the wisdom and experience that they bring and the talent that they bring to their roles and need to be compensated accordingly,” Majmudar said.
“Paid leave, what we were just talking about, paid family and medical leave. Again, because women are often disproportionately caregivers, women, older women are often taking care of their spouses, older family members, etc.”
And those are all matters to be considered.
We look at new and important laws in the workplace on our At Issue program this weekend, and you can hear more at 9:30 p.m. Sunday.
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