LIEB BLOG

Legal Analysts

Showing posts with label equal pay. Show all posts
Showing posts with label equal pay. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 30, 2024

New Rule Targets Salary History to Close Gender and Racial Pay Gaps

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has taken a significant step towards addressing gender and racial pay disparities within the Federal workforce with its latest regulation. Effective April 1, 2024, this rule prohibits the use of salary history in setting pay for new civilian employees, a practice that has historically contributed to ongoing pay inequities.

The private sector should take notice because the use of pay history is going to be a driving force in future claims under the Equal Pay Act based upon extrapolations from this regulation. 

Salary history has often been a determining factor in pay decisions, but this approach fails to account for the diverse experiences and qualifications individuals bring to their roles. More critically, it has perpetuated biases, inadvertently anchoring new salaries to previous ones that may have been influenced by discrimination. This cycle has been particularly detrimental to women and people of color, who statistically earn less than their white male counterparts. The gap is even more pronounced for women of color, underscoring the urgency of implementing measures that promote fair compensation.

By mandating that Federal agencies set pay based on merit, qualifications, and the requirements of the position rather than past compensation, the OPM aims to dismantle one of the barriers to achieving pay equity. This rule is a bold move towards creating a more equitable and inclusive Federal workforce, where pay disparities no longer shadow one's career.

For an in-depth understanding of the OPM's final rule and its impact on pay equity, visit the Federal Register: Advancing Pay Equity in Governmentwide Pay Systems.



Monday, June 06, 2022

NY Statewide Salary Transparency Law Coming Soon

All companies hiring on work that can be performed in NY will soon need to advertise the job's compensation / wages. 


A10477 has passed both houses of the NYS Congress and once signed by the Governor, it will go into effect 270 days later. 


Interestingly, the law is very broadly written where it applies to advertising "a job, promotion, or transfer opportunity that can or will be performed, at least in part, in the state of New York." Notice the word can in there. Theoretically, this will make all remote work opportunities around the world be subject to this law. 


The law, Labor Law 194-b, will require disclosure of both a job description and a range of compensation. Plus, employers will be required to keep records to prove compliance and there are big penalties for violations.


According to the bill's justification, the purpose of this law is to stop wage discrimination, which is a noble pursuit at prevention. Nonetheless, victims of wage discrimination should bring claims under the Federal Equal Pay Act (FLSA), Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, and the NYS / NYC Human Rights Law because they deserve compensation and these laws will get them paid!





Tuesday, March 29, 2022

NYC Salary Transparency in Job Advertisements FAQ Published

The NYC Commission on Human Rights published its FAQ that needs to be reviewed and adhered to by any employer advertising positions that may be performed in NYC starting on May 15, 2022.  


If you are an employer who is seeking an employee whose job may be performed, in whole or in part, in NYC, you will need to comply with Local Law 32 of 2022, which requires salary transparency. 


To comply, employers' advertisements "must state the minimum and maximum salary they in good faith believe at the time of the posting." 


Be sure to do this correctly because the FAQ reminds employers that "[e]mployers and employment agencies who are found to have violated the NYCHRL may have to pay monetary damages to affected employees and civil penalties of up to $250,000."




Thursday, July 11, 2019

New York State Enacts Pay Equity Legislation Creating Potential Exposure to All Employers

On July 10, 2019, Governor Cuomo signed two pieces of legislation into law aimed at curbing wage discrimination in the workplace. As a result, all employers in New York State must train managers, and human resources employees and immediately modify hiring, promotion and pay practices to ensure compliance with these new laws and avoid substantial exposure.

The first law, S5248B, amends the Labor Law to prohibit employers from paying an employee a lower wage based on any protected class (The Labor Law previously only prohibited differential pay based on sex). The new law also makes it easier for an employee to prove wage discrimination. Employers were previously only required to provide employees equal pay for "equal work" performed under "similar working conditions." The new lower standard requires the employer to pay employees for "substantially similar work when viewed as a composite of skill, effort and responsibility, and performed under similar working conditions."

The second law, S6549, prohibits employers from asking a job applicant or employee about their salary history and considering salary history in hiring or other employment decision even if the individual voluntarily discloses his or her salary history. An employer may only confirm an applicant or employee's salary history if in response to an offer, the individual discloses his or her salary history to negotiate a higher salary.