State and local governments are increasingly adopting laws and regulations that prohibit employers from requesting salary history information from job applicants.
The intent is to break the past cycle of pay discrimination and some go further than merely banning pay history questions. A few also prohibit an employer from relying on an applicant’s pay history to set compensation if discovered or volunteered; others prohibit an employer from taking disciplinary action against employees who discuss pay with coworkers.
A constantly changing number as states and local areas pass new bills, but at this time there are 17 state-wide bans and 19 local areas with these types of regulations.
The newest is now Washington State, with HB 1696. Washington is poised to become the next state to pass a law that would prohibit employers from asking job applicants about their salary history.
The state legislature recently passed HB 1696, which would, among other things, prohibit employers from inquiring into the prior “wage or salary history” of an applicant for employment. The bill has been sent to Governor Jay Inslee, who is expected to sign.
Specifically, the bill would prohibit an employer from seeking the salary history of an applicant for employment from either the applicant or the applicant’s current or former employer. Employers would also be prohibited from requiring that an applicant’s prior salary history “meet certain criteria,” a phrase which is not further defined in the bill.
Bill includes broad pay transparency requirements for employers with more than 15 employees.
The newest information shows that Toledo, OH is also on board as they are recently in the news with Acts to prohibit salary inquiries by employers. Alabama has a proposed similar bill to be heard on 9/1/2019.