Oregon prohibits employers from screening applicants based on salary history

Oregon Equal Pay Act of 2017 (HB 2005), which will prohibit employers from screening job applicants based on salary history. The bill is part of a new trend being seen across the country, with local and state government working to shrink pay gaps between genders, races, and those in other protected classes. Under HB 2005, employers may pay employees different salary for comparable work only if the difference is due to a bona fide factor related to the position based on: a seniority system; a merit system; a system measuring earnings by quantity or quality of production; workplace locations; travel; education; training; or experience. The measure had bipartisan support, led by Sen. Kathleen Taylor, D-Portland, and Sen. Tim Knopp, R-Bend. “It’s currently illegal in Oregon and throughout the U.S. to pay someone differently for the same work based on their gender, race, religion, etcetera,” Taylor said . “However, our current legal system is not working, and we know far too many individuals are being paid less for doing the same work.” The bulk of the bill’s provisions set to go into effect on or before Jan. 1, 2019 – giving employers time, Taylor said, for employers to identify and correct any pay disparities.]]>