New EPOA administrative policy details upcoming job posting requirements
The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) has released an administrative policy to provide guidance on the Equal Pay and Opportunities Act (RCW 49.58).
The law prohibits pay discrimination based on gender and promotes fairness among workers by addressing business practices that contribute to income disparities among genders. Employees and job applicants have rights under this law.
The administrative policy also addresses job posting requirements for employers brought about by the passage of Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5761. Effective Jan. 1, employers with 15 or more employees must provide a wage scale or salary range, plus information on benefits and other compensation in their job postings.
The policy also provides guidance on the department’s existing interpretations of the act.
To provide more information about the law, the Employment Standards program is holding webinars. Employers can sign up for a session on the Workshops and Training Center web page. In the event title dropdown menu, look for “Equal Pay and Opportunities Act (Webinar)” to find the webinars. The schedule for the "Job Posting Transparency" webinars is:
- Dec. 15 at 2 p.m.
- Jan. 12 at 9 a.m.
- Feb. 9 at 2 p.m.
Topics to be covered include what constitutes a job posting, what information must be included in a job posting, what constitutes a wage scale or salary range as well as benefits and other compensation. You can also learn about the free consultations the program offers employers.
Employers who would like in-depth education on the Equal Pay and Opportunities Act can request a consultation with the EPOA team. A consultation is an educational opportunity and provides an informed assessment of possible risks specific to you as an employer as well as proposes resolutions to assist with future compliance with the law. As part of the consultation, L&I conducts a comprehensive review of your employment policies and practices to assess potential risks. Employers can also request a consultation about a specific concern.
For more information, contact L&I’s Equal Pay agents or 360-902-6625.
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