When was the last time you were on the hunt for a job? Do you remember a question where you were asked to divulge the pay rate of your previous positions? Did you stop to ask yourself "why on earth is a prospective employer asking me this?" Next time, you should... especially if you're a woman.
As the New York Times reports, a few states and companies have taken to banning asking this question entirely as a proactive way of narrowing the pay gap in the absence of meaningful federal-level legislation to address it. I found this article interesting, because I'd never given much thought to the salary history questions. Perhaps I shouldn't be surprised that the information would not be used in our best interest.
Thoughts?
"Aileen Rizo was training math teachers in the public schools in Fresno, Calif., when she discovered that her male colleagues with comparable jobs were being paid significantly more.
She was told there was a justifiable reason: Employees’ pay was based on their salaries at previous jobs, and she had been paid less than they had earlier in their careers.
Ms. Rizo, who is now running for the California State Assembly, sued. In April, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled in her favor, saying that prior salary could not be used to justify a wage gap between male and female employees.
....
Employers often base a starting salary on someone’s previous one, so at each job, the gender pay gap continues, and it becomes seemingly impossible for women to catch up."
How a Common Interview Question Fuels the Gender Pay Gap (and How to Stop It)
She was told there was a justifiable reason: Employees’ pay was based on their salaries at previous jobs, and she had been paid less than they had earlier in their careers.
Ms. Rizo, who is now running for the California State Assembly, sued. In April, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled in her favor, saying that prior salary could not be used to justify a wage gap between male and female employees.
....
Employers often base a starting salary on someone’s previous one, so at each job, the gender pay gap continues, and it becomes seemingly impossible for women to catch up."
How a Common Interview Question Fuels the Gender Pay Gap (and How to Stop It)
As the New York Times reports, a few states and companies have taken to banning asking this question entirely as a proactive way of narrowing the pay gap in the absence of meaningful federal-level legislation to address it. I found this article interesting, because I'd never given much thought to the salary history questions. Perhaps I shouldn't be surprised that the information would not be used in our best interest.
Thoughts?
