INDUSTRY NEWS
Philadelphia set to ban employers from asking about salary history
Philadelphia City Council passed an amendment to Title IX of The Philadelphia Code that will prohibit employers from inquiring about applicants’ or employees’ wage history at any stage in the hiring process.
Philadelphia mayor Jim Kenney is expected to sign the bill into law. When that happens, Philadelphia will become the first city to pass salary-history legislation.
Philadelphia officials credit the idea of the law to the state legislature in Massachusetts which passed their own version of the legislation this summer.
According to Philly.com, “[t]he legislation makes it illegal for employers to ask an applicant for their salary history or to retaliate against a prospective employee for failing to answer such a question. Applicants who think the law has been broken will be able to file a complaint within 300 days to the city's Commission on Human Relations, which would have the ability to fine employers $2,000 and order them to pay other damages, including the applicant's attorneys' fees.”
Proponents of this growing legislative trend say eliminating salary inquiries will help to rectify wage inequity that has historically affected women and minorities.
Source: Philly.com, 12/9/2016