SALARY HISTORY: ILLEGAL INTERVIEW QUESTION

“What is your current salary”?

In a job interview, this question is ILLEGAL if you live in these 5 Canadian provinces: British Columbia, Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island or if you work for the Federal public service.

The Pay Transparency Act prohibits questioning a candidate about their salary history and includes other restrictions:

The requirements of the Pay Transparency Law include:

1. Job postings: publish salary information;

2. Disclosure of information: in annual reports;

3. Salary history: prohibition on requesting information from candidates.

In the United States, eight (8) states have already ratified the pay transparency law with 15 other states in the study of this bill.

In Europe, the member countries adopted a new bill in 2023 on pay transparency called the “EU Pay Transparency Directive”.

A 2022 Canadian salary survey from payroll company ADP Canada found that despite the gap narrowing in recent years, the pay disparity is still a reality, with women earning 21% less than men.

The question concerning salary history in a job interview is seemingly harmless but there are legal, ethical and discriminatory repercussions, particularly for groups belonging to visible minorities, women and people with disabilities.

Will the province of Quebec follow this trend?

Congratulations the Salary Transparency Act and let’s continue to progress!

Stefanie Rochford, CHRP, CRHA