America’s most rigorous laws addressing the inequality of gender salaries are embedded into the California Fair Play Act. What the law demands is that irrespective of job title, for men and women engaged in “substantially similar work,” pay should be the same. In addition, should an employee ask about their coworkers’ wage, employers are forbidden from engaging in any kind of retribution.

So what kind of impact will this have in the Sacramento region? The law will force small businesses in the region to make various adjustments so as to meet the requirements of the new law. Of course, as with any new law, there are critics. Some argue that it will result in an influx of additional lawsuits that will lead to the establishment of a “bad business climate.” Others though are all for it. For example, Eric Veldman-Miller already pays his six employees between $11 and $19 an hour. The highest paid employee happens to be a woman. He said “if it was a male, he would be making the exact same wage, that’s the job. It just so happens that we’re lucky enough to have her.”

At the end of the day this law is being fully endorsed by the California Chamber of Commerce. And, at least those bosses in Sacramento will have to conduct a review of all employee salaries.

But the California Chamber of Commerce supports the law. Those behind it say it will, at the very least, force companies to review the way they pay their employees.