Pay Equity in New Mexico

Governor Bill Richardson Directs State Government to Ensure Gender Pay Equity, Lead New Mexico to Equity Goals (12/8/09)
http://www.governor.state.nm.us/press/2009/dec/121809_02.pdf

SANTA FE – Governor Bill Richardson today signed an executive order directing agencies under his control to report annually and remedy any gender pay gaps among their workers, and establishing a firm schedule and process for private contractors with the State to do the same.

The Governor’s directives come from recommendations by his Task Force on Fair and Equal Pay, created last year to examine gender and racial pay equity and job segregation within state government. Dr. Martha Burk, the Governor’s Senior Advisor on Women’s Issues, chaired the Task Force, which was composed of members from the private and public sectors.

“Eliminating the pay gap that all too often prevails between men and women is a top priority of mine,” Governor Bill Richardson said. “New Mexico is taking the lead among the states to greater pay equity in the larger workforce and economy. Our actions can serve as a national model. This is an important economic justice and civil rights issue, and common sense requires it.”

Today’s executive order directs all state executive agencies to submit reports on pay equity annually beginning next year. Where pay gaps exist, agencies will submit plans to overcome any non job-related pay gaps.

Beginning July 1, 2010, vendors and contractors of 10 or more employees will file a pay equity report with the State of New Mexico every year. By next fall, a working group appointed by the Governor will develop and issue a point system for incentivizing progress toward pay equity in the scoring of Requests for Proposals, and other bidding processes for State of New Mexico work. The State Personnel Office will provide technical assistance to agencies, contractors and prospective contractors for complying with this Order.

A survey by the Governor’s task Force found gender pay inequities in New Mexico state government are less than the national average.