Albany Passes Salary History Question Ban [POLL]

Don't you hate when you get to that part of a job application that asks you to put down how much you made on your previous jobs? That won't be allowed in the future if a bill passed by both the state Senate and Assembly is signed into law by Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Senator David Carlucci, a Democrat from Rockland County, sponsored S.6549 which passed the Senate in June 19 and was written to end the salary history question for job applicants and help stop wage discrimination.

The language of the bill said, "No employer shall rely on the wage or salary history of an applicant in determining whether to offer employment to such individual or in determining the wages or salary for such individual."

Also, employers will not be allowed to "seek, request or require" the wage or salary history of an applicant or current employee as a condition to be interviewed for a position.

Anyone who feels a prospective employer did not follow the law would be able to bring a civil action against that employer.

According to a press release, the bill is aimed at eliminating the gender pay gap by removing one of the root causes of discrimination for women and people of color in the workplace.

Carlucci said that the salary history question nearly guarantees that the wage disparity will continue through a woman's career.

"This tactic is used by employers to justify lower pay rates or raises," he said. "Banning this is the first step in enforcing equal pay laws passed nearly 50 years ago by the federal government."

The corresponding legislation in the Assembly — A.5308B — passed a day after the Senate version.

According to Carlucci, six other states, including California, Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Oregon and Vermont, have passed similar legislation.

Cuomo is expected to sign the bill into law, the Journal News said. If he does, it will go into effect after six months.

Now it's your turn. Vote in our unscientific poll and tell us what you think in the comments.