Pay Equity Laws
What is pay equity?
Pay equity is a means of eliminating gender and ethnic discrimination in the wage-setting system. In this context, the criteria which employers use to determine wages must be gender- and ethnicity-neutral.
What is pay equity legislation?
The overarching purpose of pay equity legislation is to prohibit employers from discriminating on the basis of gender or ethnicity in the payment of wages. To assist candidates and clients alike throughout the hiring process, we’ve compiled relevant information associated with pay equity legislation enacted around the United States. This webpage includes updated information, including:
- Bill names
- Effective start dates
- Violations and penalties
- Exceptions related to voluntary disclosure and interview guidelines
If a state or territory is not included in the dropdown below, there is no pending legislation.
*This is not intended to be legal advice.
Location
Statewide
Bill
Senate Bill 19-085
Effective
1/1/2020
Violations
Employers may not rely on compensation history to justify a disparity in current compensation; seek compensation history; rely on compensation history to determine compensation; discriminate or retaliate for failing to disclose salary history; retaliate against employee assisting in enforcing the act; retaliate against employee who inquires about or discloses compensation; prohibit employee from disclosing compensation; fail to disclose salary range.
Penalties
Back pay; damages equal to difference between amount paid and amount employee would have received plus liquidated damages; legal and equitable relief; costs and attorneys’ fees.
Voluntary Disclosure
Not addressed; likely violation to rely on unprompted voluntary disclosure.
Interview Guidelines
(not addressed)