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 123
Effective
10/01/2020
Violations
Employers must provide a wage range for the position upon inquiry. They cannot retaliate because an applicant did not provide wage history or requested the wage range. It is also a violation for employers to rely on wage history in screening, determining wages or seek wage history orally, in writing or through current/former employer.
Penalties
Letter compelling compliance for first violation; civil penalty up to $300 for each applicant for whom employer is not in compliance for second violation; civil penalty up to $600 for each applicant for whom employer is not in compliance for each subsequent violation.
Voluntary Disclosure
Not a violation, but employer still may not rely on this information.
Interview Guidelines
(not addressed)