Salary Trends and Your Top Echelon Membership

In recent years, it has become increasingly illegal for employers to ask job candidates about their current salary during the recruiting and hiring process. In fact, it seems as though new states and localities are adding bans on an almost weekly basis. (It seems that way, but it’s not actually the case.)

Click HERE to see a running list of the states and localities that have outlawed pay history questions. Since it’s a running list, it means that this article and the list contained therein are updated on a regular basis to reflect the most recent developments.

However, that’s not what this particular Pinnacle blog post is about. Instead, this post is about another emerging trend in the job market and the recruiting profession. And in a twist of irony, this trend is almost the inverse of the first trend.

The first trend: it has become increasingly illegal to ask job candidates about their current salary during the recruiting and hiring process.

The second trend: it has become increasingly illegal for employers to exclude the salary range in job postings.

In short, job candidates do NOT have to disclose salary information, whereas employers MUST disclose salary information for the jobs they’re attempting to fill.

Now, not as many states and localities have embraced the second trend as have embraced the first one . . . but that’s only for the moment. More states and localities are joining the fray, including California, which did so recently. The state of Washington will do so soon, as will New York City.

As of right now, more bills are under consideration in the states of South Carolina, Massachusetts, and New York. (Well, if New York City is going to do it, then why wouldn’t New York State do it, too?)

Click HERE for a running list of the states and localities that require a salary range in job postings.

What does this mean for you, the members of Top Echelon Network?

We at Top Echelon trust the members of the Network to adhere to the applicable laws in their states and localities. That was the case for the first trend (not asking job candidates about their current salary), just as it’s the case for the second trend (employers including a salary range in job postings).

We’re addressing these trends because they’re becoming more prevalent. More and more states and localities are going to adopt one of the trends, if not both. Because of this, these trends might be at the top of your mind.

The job market and the employment marketplace are continuing to evolve, just like they’ve always done during the 34 years that Top Echelon Network has been in existence. And our strategy will continue to be what it has been during these past three-plus decades: to rely upon the experience and expertise of our Network members to navigate these changes like the true professionals they are.

And for that, we at Top Echelon Network would like to thank our membership for truly being THE elite network of highly specialized search firms!

If you have any questions about this blog post or about the trends and issues referenced therein, you can contact me by calling 330.595.1742 or by sending an email to drea@topechelon.com.