A review of recent state and local employment policy moves includes new pay discrimination restrictions, more minimum wage increases and a "ban the box" requirement.
California After passing one of the most sweeping gender pay equity measures last year, the California State Legislature is considering a measure to prohibit prospective employers from asking applicants about past salary and benefits. The bill, introduced by Democratic Assemblywoman Nora Campos, was passed along party lines last week by the Assembly and now goes to the Senate for consideration.
District of Columbia By unanimous vote, the D.C. Council approved Mayor Muriel Bowser's proposal to raise the District's hourly minimum wage to $15 by 2020, joining recent legislation by New York and California and contrasting sharply with the $7.25 hourly minimum wage just across the Potomac River in Virginia.
Miami Beach Miami Beach's City Commission challenged state law by raising the minimum hourly wage to $13.31 by 2021 for all businesses with minimum gross revenues of $500,000. The city's attorneys are confident they would prevail in a legal challenge.
Cleveland Following a visit to the city by Labor Secretary Thomas Perez, two Cleveland labor leaders are voicing concern over a proposal to raise the city's minimum hourly wage to $15. According to Dave Wondolowski, head of the Cleveland Building and Construction Trades Council, "This will scare people out of Cleveland, out of Cuyahoga County and potentially the state of Ohio."
Louisiana Joining 23 states and over 100 cities and counties, Louisiana passed legislation to "Ban the Box" for state jobs, prohibiting the state from requesting from job seekers information about their criminal histories at the start of the application process.
