Salary History Ban
On July 31, 2019, an amendment to the Illinois Equal Pay Act of 2003 was signed into law, which prohibits employers from inquiring into a job applicant’s salary and benefit history. The law became effective September 29, 2019.
The amendment prohibits employers from:
- Soliciting information regarding wage, salary and benefit history from job applicants, or their previous employers.
- Considering wage, salary or benefit history in compensation and hiring decisions, if voluntarily provided by an applicant.
- Requiring employees to sign a contract or waiver prohibiting them from discussing compensation with other employees.
Under the new law, employers are permitted to:
- Share information with an applicant about the wage, salary or benefits being offered for a position.
- Discuss an applicant's expectations with respect to wage, salary or benefit information.