Experts Encourage Proactive Analysis of Salaries

Employers are starting to contend with a wave of laws around the country forbidding them from asking job applicants about salary history. The laws are motivated by concerns that women have suffered from pay disparities, and those disparities perpetuate as women move from job to job and report their salary histories. These laws are intended to rectify the situation.

Jurisdictions that have passed salary history laws include California, Delaware, Puerto Rico, San Francisco and New York City. Legislatures in New Jersey and Illinois passed laws that were vetoed by their governors.

“I think the movement is here,” said Evelyn Murphy, founder and president of the Wage Project Inc. in Boston, “and wise employers will try to get ahead of this, because it will backfire if they don’t.”

Massachusetts became the first jurisdiction to pass such a bill in August 2016; it will take effect in July 2018.

Women make 80 cents on the dollar compared to men, according to a risk management expert in Dallas.

Source: Business Insurance