Legislature Calls On Firms To Add More Women To Boards

The state Legislature is calling on corporations to add more women to their governing boards.

The Senate on Thursday unanimously backed the non-binding resolution, one day after similar action by the House.

The resolution encourages Massachusetts firms to improve gender diversity on their boards of directors and in top management.

Sen. Karen Spilka, an Ashland Democrat who co-sponsored the measure, said it wasn't simply a women's issue, but a business issue as well. She said studies show companies with greater diversity often hold a competitive advantage.

According to the resolution, about 15 percent of corporate director seats and about 12 percent of executive officer posts were held by women at the state's 100 largest public companies.

The measure recommends firms with nine or more directors have at least three women on their boards.