In an effort to address the gender wage gap, many municipalities and states have introduced equal pay laws that prohibit employers from asking applicants about their salary history. Philadelphia soon will become the first city to adopt the “wage-gap” legislation. The bill, influenced by the passage of a state-wide wage-gap law in Massachusetts earlier this year, will amend the Philadelphia Fair Practices ordinance to prohibit employers from asking about an applicant’s wage history at any stage of the hiring process. Few exceptions apply, including an employer’s right to use wage history if an applicant knowingly and willingly disclosed the information or in the case where a federal, state or local law specifically authorizes the disclosure or verification for employment purposes.
