Multiple cities and states have passed laws recently banning employers from asking a job
candidate for their salary history during the employment screening and interviewing process.
Surprisingly, job level didn't seem to matter, either: companies were about as likely to
ask for salary history from individual contributors as executives or managers.
More and more cities and states (NYC, California, Oregon, Delaware, etc.) have moved to target the gender pay gap by preventing employers from asking
for salary history during screening and interviews, while Amazon and other companies are making the change on their own.
In fact, New York City is expected to make it illegal to ask
for salary history very soon (and Massachusetts banned it last year, and California is considering legislation to do the same).
Following the passage of state and local laws aimed at improving pay equity for women and people of color, Amazon joins other tech giants in banning recruiters from asking
interviewees for their salary history.
And last year, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (Dem. - DC) introduced a bill to prohibit employers from asking job
candidates for their salary history during the job interview or salary negotiation process on the national level.
2 petty things ► November 2009 (25) how to handle requests
for salary history when you cant recommend a friend for a job should I include an audio clip with my resume?
Mr. Cuomo signed two executive orders to combat the wage gap by not allowing employers to ask new
employees for their salary history and requiring state contractors to list how much they pay their workers.
Candidates often have to deal with employer
requests for salary history either on job applications or during salary negotiations after successful interviews.
In addition to not asking candidates
for a salary history, the company will now provide the pay range of any given role to U.S. job candidates who ask.
As she seeks a second term, James is especially proud of her legislation, passed through the City Council and signed into law by de Blasio, that bans employers from asking job applicants
for their salary history.
Other parts of his women's agenda call for the enactment of a state universal health care program, implementation of a statewide ban on asking
for salary histories, a strengthening of the state's abortion laws and passage of a bill outlawing discrimination based on gender identity.
On Equal Pay Day, Advances Legislation to Ban Employers, Both Public and Private, from Asking for Salary History
Sometimes it is hard not to offer this information especially if the employer asks
for a salary history or salary requirement.
Sometimes a job ad asks
for your salary history (past) or salary requirements (future).
Sometimes a job ad asks
for your salary history or salary requirements in a resume.
Unless you're responding to a job ad that specifically asks
for your salary history and requirements (and if it does, include it in your cover letter, not your resume), save the salary talk for the negotiation once a job offer has been made.
One of the main reasons an employer asks
for your salary history is to make sure you won't ask for more money than they've budgeted.
If asked
for salary history, list your base salary (or add commission and bonuses), omitting benefits.
As ThinkProgress noted, asking candidates
for their salary histories may reinforce the gender wage gap.
If there is a specific request
for salary history, respond by providing your expected salary range (not your current salary or past salary), such as «$ 60,000 to $ 65,000, not including benefits.»
(Note that in an increasing number of jurisdictions, asking
for salary history is becoming illegal.)
Many employers, who ask
for a salary history or who request a resume and cover letter, automatically exclude any candidate who doesn't follow the applicant directions in the job posting.
If the hiring manager or recruiter asks
you for your salary history, ask for their range instead.
For example if a potential employer asks
for a salary history and your resume does not have that information, then the possibility is that your resume will be in the reject pill rather than being on the employers desk no matter how perfectly qualified a candidate you are.
So, asking
for a salary history may alienate people you want to hire.
If they ask
you for your salary history do you have to give it to them?
Depending on the ad, sometimes it will ask
you for salary history and requirements.