Catherwood LibraryILR School

Members of the US House of Representatives have been bombarded this week with thousands of letters from employer organizations, such as the Society for Human Resource Management or the National Association of Manufacturers. The letters express widespread opposition to a bill attempting to put an end to pay discrimination based on gender. The bill would require that pay systems be more open (therefore exposing employers to increased government scrutiny) and could hold employers liable for wage discrepancies (thus creating a potential for many more lawsuits). This, and the clause that would allow employees to freely discuss their paychecks, have employers shaking in their boots. The bill, however, full of tacked-on, unrelated amendments, is not expected to pass.