At a job interview, a candidate is often asked: “What’s your current or most recent salary?” Usually, this question is feared. After all, a low figure could limit the candidate’s starting pay, but a high number could make the candidate seem expensive. Now, in a growing number of states and cities, the question is off limits, as employers face legislation that bars them from asking job candidates about their salary history or benefits.
Proponents of the new legislation argue that banning the salary question is necessary to ensure pay equity for women. The argument is that by basing future salaries on previous wages, employers have been perpetuating the earnings divide. In other words, because employers have historically relied heavily on salary history, the gender pay gap has Continue reading