A new law taking effect in January aims to narrow the gender and racial pay gap in Minnesota.
Minnesota Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan has been an outspoken supporter for the law, which will bar employers from considering an applicant's past salary to set pay.
Flanagan says the current pay disparities in the state does a disservice to all Minnesotans and particularly women.
"Our current pay gap prevents women from a achieving their financial educational and personal goals," says Flanagan. "We can and must live in a state where men and women, no matter their race or ethnicity, have the same opportunities to succeed under the law."
Under that law, those seeking a job will still be able to voluntarily disclose their pay during salary negotiations.
Flanagan says this will break down barriers for thousands of Minnesotans.
"This is where it starts, in wealth creation and the ability for you to care for yourself, to care for your family, and then to set up your own future," she says.
The law takes affect January 1 and applies to all public, private, and nonprofit employers in Minnesota.