1.3 million Marylanders, about half the state’s workforce, are paid by the hour, not on salary. Eight out of ten men in hourly jobs work 35 hours a week or more, but only about 45 percent of women do, according to a new study from the non-profit Center for Popular Democracy. Women are also more likely to have lower wages.
The legislators sponsoring the set of bills say they would make pay and scheduling of work hours more equitable; they also say their legislative proposals would have a big impact on women. Proponents say the bills would help women, in particular, deal with erratic schedules, achieve pay equity and balance their jobs with family responsibilities. Opponents say the bills intervene with managers flexibility in running their businesses profitably, and could lead to lawsuits.
One of the groups lobbying for this package of bills is the nonpartisan non-profit Maryland Working Families. Its executive director, Charly Carter, joins us in the studio.
Audio for this segment will be available before noon.
