Female employees in California now have more ways to challenge gender-based wage gaps, under a bill signed by Governor Brown. Supporters say it offers the strongest equal-pay protection in the nation. The past president of the Nevada County branch of the American Association of University Women is Sharon O’Hara. She says The Fair Pay Act goes further, by placing the burden on the employer to prove a man’s higher pay is based on factors other than gender…

click to listen to Sharon O’Hara

O’Hara says the new law, which takes effect January 1st, will also protect workers from discrimination and retaliation if they ask questions about how much other people earn…

click to listen to Sharon O’Hara

Employers still won’t be required to provide employee salary information. But the legislation stipulates employers can justify higher wages for men only if the pay is based on seniority, a merit system, quantity or quality of production, or any other legitimate factor other than gender.