In the past, a typical job listing did not have to include salary info. However, Washington state has taken steps to rectify this. The new change will take effect beginning in 2023 and will apply to companies that employ 15 or more individuals.
Washington EPOA
The Washington Equal Pay and Opportunities Act, otherwise known as EPOA, passed an amendment in 2019 stating that employers had to provide salary information if an applicant asked for it prior to accepting a job. On March 30, 2022, this amendment was updated. As a result, starting on January 1, 2023, employers in Washington state have to disclose both the salary range and pay scale of any position they are hiring for. They also have to let potential employees know details about any other compensation that comes with the job, including benefits. This information must be disclosed in every job ad a company posts.
There are times when a specific job does not have a salary range or wage scale. Part of the update to the 2019 amendment states that in these cases, companies have to disclose the minimum amount a job pays. This applies to ads for jobs being fulfilled by outside candidates, as well as promotions granted to those already working for a company.
The amendment does not require employers to include this information on something as simple as a “help wanted” sign. According to Washington state law, anything stating that a company needs to fill a specific position is required to mention the pieces of information discussed above.
The Effect On Job Candidates
What this means for job candidates is that they can expect listings to include details about any bonuses offered by the company, as well as information on retirement benefits, health insurance and paid time off. However, it should be noted that employers are not permitted to include certain words in job ads. These include words like insurance, and bonuses.
The penalties will remain the same for any company that violates the EPOA in any way, allowing employees to pursue legal action if the terms of a job are misrepresented.
