State Reps. Kent Smith (D-Euclid) and Monique Smith (D-Fairview Park) introduce legislation to create a program administered by the Ohio Department of Commerce to recognize workplaces that are succeeding at closing the pay gap between men and women. The program would offer an opportunity for workplaces to earn a "Fair Paycheck Workplace" designation from the Ohio Department of Commerce and be recognized as a leader in paycheck fairness.

Interested businesses would apply for the "Fair Paycheck Workplace" designation by submitting recent payroll records identifying the average earnings and genders of their employees. The designation is earned by demonstrating that average earnings for men and women within the company are within 5 percentage points. This criteria would need to be met at the time of the application, six months following the initial application, and then could be renewed annually moving forward.