MMA hosts webinar on Workplace Equity Act

The MMA hosted a webinar on Sept. 10 about the Frances Perkins Workplace Equity Act, enacted in 2024.

The webinar featured presentations from the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development and the Attorney General’s Office covering the key provisions of the law, including data reporting requirements and salary range transparency.

Labor Undersecretary Josh Cutler began by reminding attendees that the law was named after Frances Perkins, who served as the U.S. Secretary of Labor from 1933 to 1945.

The law requires municipalities to submit their most recent EEO-4 report to the state by Feb. 1, 2026, and each subsequent even-numbered year.

“Getting better data on wages and workforce data demographics really helps to identify and guide better policy-making decisions for ourselves, for people at the municipal level, and our colleagues in the state Legislature,” Cutler said.

Beginning on Oct. 29, employers with 25 or more employees are required to disclose pay ranges in job postings, to applicants and to current employees.

Assistant Attorney General Trini Gao added that, “Salary range transparency is one of the best tools to close gender and racial wage gaps by providing prospective employees with “really critical information that enables them to negotiate for equitable pay and make informed employment decisions.”

Jen Breaker, assistant town manager and communications director in Danvers, moderated 35 minutes of questions and answers, addressing inquiries regarding when to post the hiring range versus the full salary range, penalties for late reporting, and hiring college interns without public posting.

• Frances Perkins Workplace Equity Act – Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (1M PDF)
• Mass. Attorney General’s Office Presents: Employers’ obligations and employees’ rights under the Wage Transparency Act (345K PDF)