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
HB 1
Effective
12/14/2017
Violations
Seek pay history of a candidate from applicant or former or current employer, including benefits and other compensation.
Penalties
Salary inquiries – civil penalty from $1,000 to $5,000 for first offense; $5,000 to $10,000 for each additional violation.
Voluntary Disclosure
Employers may not rely on information, even if it is voluntarily disclosed, until employment offers have been made and accepted.
Interview Guidelines
(not addressed)