A trend in local policymaking may indicate a positive step for women and minorities in combatting the wage gap as well as a tweak in the hiring process for employers. In November, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio signed an Executive Order prohibiting City agencies from inquiring about the salary history of job applicants. The order bans City agencies from asking for an applicant’s salary history either through direct questioning or through public records searches until making a conditional offer of employment. NYC’s mayor intends to extend the ban to other public and private employers.
Currently, this is not the law across New York State; however, Mayor de Blasio is not alone in his efforts. Just a few weeks ago, Philadelphia became the first city in the nation to ban such inquiries by all employers.
So, what does this mean for employers? In some cities, it means stricter rules when negotiating a new employee’s salary. As always, employers should make sure their hiring processes comply with local as well as State and federal law.
