The most recent, and largest, state to take action is California, where the Fair Pay Act took effect on Jan. 1.

There are good reasons to bolster protections for workers who talk about their pay with their co-workers. Many workers fear discussing pay at work because they believe their employers will fire them or take other adverse action.

According to a 2014 survey by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, 62% of female respondents and 60% of male respondents in the private sector said their employers have policies that prohibit or discourage employees from talking about pay at work.