A study from the American Association of University Women says women in Ohio are paid 78% of what their male counterparts make. Democratic state lawmakers want to create a new tool that could help close that wage gap.
Democratic Representative Janine Boyd of the Cleveland area wants to pass a bill that creates a toll-free equal pay hotline. Callers could anonymously report an issue and the person on the other end could collect more information to find out if that caller is a victim of wage discrimination.
“It would be a process that’s non-intimidating that’s available to people to report any sort of employment, wage disparities that they encounter,” said Boyd.
Boyd says the hotline can shine a light on the topic of equal pay and has the potential to sway more lawmakers to do something about it.
The bill will be waiting for lawmakers when they return from their break after the November election.