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Philadelphia To Ban Employers From Asking Salary History

Matt Rourke
/
AP

 

Philadelphia will soon ban employers from asking job applicants for their salary history.

Supporters have argued such questions perpetuate pay discrimination against women and minorities.

Councilman Bill Greenlee, a Democrat who sponsored the legislation, told The Philadelphia Inquirer "it's about fairness."

He said employers should base the salary offer on what the job is worth and what experience the applicant brings.

A spokesman for Mayor Jim Kenney said he will sign it into law.

Philadelphia officials reportedly got the idea from the state legislature in Massachusetts, which passed its own salary-history legislation this summer.

Similar bills have been introduced to state legislatures in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. New York's City Council is also considering the measure.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, women make 79 cents for every dollar made by men.