Hi, here’s your HR quickie for today, December 27, 2023.

In 2024, our friends in Minnesota are joining a number of other states in prohibiting employers from asking about an applicant’s current wage, salary, benefits or other compensation for the purposes of figure out what to pay – or offer to pay for the current position.

There are a couple of exceptions – for instance if the salary is a matter of public record, or the information is volunteered by the applicant.  But broadly speaking, someone’s prior pay history is a no-go zone.

And a couple of pro tips here – you can’t prohibit employees from telling other people about their compensation (it’s their information to give), and you can’t require that an employee sign a waiver that waives their right to discuss their wages.

And oh – by the way, you also have to include information about the wage disclosure law in your handbook.

So, train your hiring managers, update your handbook, and review your employment application – just to be sure any questions on the application are good to go.