Spotlight on Maine: Pay Equality

Maine Governor Janet Mills recently signed legislation to promote pay equality by discouraging employers from basing wages on an employee's salary history."By working to see that all people are paid based not on prior compensation, but on their experience, their abilities, and their qualifications, we can help level the playing field for women across Maine and enhance their economic security," Governor Mills stated in a press release.

The law prohibits Maine employers from asking about prior wage or salary history of applicants until after an offer of employment has been made to applicants, with only a few exceptions. Maine joins California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Wisconsin in restricting when an employer can ask an applicant, if at all, about previous salary history. Several individual cities have also enacted similar bans.

Safer Places' default policy when verifying previous or current employment as part of a background screening package is to not inquire about previous salary in order that we do not inadvertently report information that our clients are prohibited by law from considering in the hiring process. If you are a client that desires that we seek this information when conducting verification of employment (VOE) and you are located in a state where it is permitted, please contact us and we will make a special notation on your account instructions.