New Jersey - Jersey City requires pay transparency

Jersey City, New Jersey, has passed an ordinance that calls for pay transparency and reinforces the state’s ban on salary history inquiries. The Ordinance is effective immediately.

Background:

New Jersey law prohibits employers from asking about an applicant’s salary history or requiring that an applicant’s salary history satisfy any minimum or maximum criteria.

The Ordinance:

The Ordinance reinforces the state’s salary history ban and requires employers to include a minimum and maximum salary, and/or hourly wage, and benefits in a job posting or advertisement in Jersey City if they:

• Employ five or more workers;
• Have their principal place of business within Jersey City; and
• Use print or digital media in Jersey City to provide notice of employment opportunities.

Note: The Ordinance defines salary range as the lowest to the highest salary that an employer in good faith believes they would pay for the advertised job, promotion or transfer opportunity at the time they post the job.

Next Steps:

Employers in Jersey City should review their hiring policies, procedures and postings to ensure compliance with Ordinance 22-026.