Oxfam recently released its Best and Worst States to Work in the U.S. report, which considers criteria like minimum wage, paid leave and the ability to organize. "There are vast disparities and access to critical workplace protections that vary by state," says Inimai Chettiar, president of the work-family justice organization A Better Balance. Oxfam then narrowed in on policies that have an outsized effect on women and women of color, specifically, to rank the best states for female employees. Oxfam examined each state's tipped minimum wage, for example, as nearly seven in 10 tipped workers are women, according to the National Women's Law Center. Nevada"I think these states generally have been a little bit more forward thinking in terms of their leave and discrimination policies," says Chettiar.

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Persons: Inimai Chettiar, Kaitlyn Henderson, Mason, Dixon, there's Organizations: Oxfam, States, D.C, National Women's Law, National Center for Education Statistics, Oregon, of Columbia, Illinois, Minnesota, Washington, Connecticut, Massachusetts, CNBC Locations: U.S, Washington, California, Oregon, . New York, Nevada, South Carolina, Tennessee