December 16, 2016
The Philadelphia City Council unanimously passed legislation that will prohibit employers from inquiring about or requiring a prospective employee's wage history or from relying "on the wage history of a prospective employee from any current or former employer... in determining the wages" of a candidate. Mayor Jim Kenney is expected to sign the measure, which will take effect 120 days after enactment. Intended to eliminate the pay discrimination against women and minorities, Massachusetts was the first to enact a ban on salary inquiries in August of 2016, and similar measures have since been considered by several other states, cities and municipalities. A version of the policy was dropped from California's Fair Pay Act earlier this year in the face of heavy opposition from business groups.
