Columbus now bans employers from asking applicants about pay history

Columbus employers are now prohibited from asking applicants about their salary history, under a new law that went into effect Friday.

Why it matters: The ordinance , passed unanimously by City Council a year ago, calls requesting past salary information a "common practice" that can "perpetuate historical inequities that women, especially women of color, face in the job market."

• Median earnings have historically been lower for women than for men.

Zoom in: Under the ordinance, employers with at least 15 workers cannot ask applicants for their salary history, nor inquire with their other workplaces.

Employers are also barred from searching "publicly available records or reports for the purpose of obtaining an applicant's salary history."

Yes, but: Employers can still ask about salary and benefits expectations, along with productivity measures like past revenue and sales.

• The ordinance does not apply to workers seeking a transfer or promotion with their current employer, nor does it apply to independent contractors.
• Nor does it apply to government jobs besides those working for the city of Columbus.

The other side: The Columbus Chamber of Commerce opposes the ordinance as inhibiting business owners' freedom to make "sound" hiring decisions, the Dispatch reports .

What's next: Applicants can file complaints with the Community Relations Commission alleging any violations, which can lead to civil fines.

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