🔒Business group pushes back on bill requiring pay ranges in job postings

Connecticut employers would be required to disclose salary ranges and a general description of benefits in job postings under legislation being considered by the General Assembly’s Labor and Public Employees Committee. The proposal (House Bill 5387) would require employers to include the wages or wage range for a position and a description of benefits such as health insurance, retirement plans and paid leave in both public and internal job advertisements. The bill would also require employers to provide employees annually with the wage range for their position and a general description of benefits, while strengthening protections for workers who discuss or inquire about pay. Employees or job applicants who believe their rights were violated could file a civil lawsuit seeking damages ranging from $1,000 to $10,000, as well as attorney’s fees, punitive damages and other relief. Connecticut already requires employers to disclose salary ranges to applicants upon request or before making a job offer, and to employees at hiring, when their role changes, or upon request. The current law, however, does not require that pay ranges be included in job postings. The Connecticut Business & Industry Association said the proposal would expand existing wage transparency requirements and could impose new compliance burdens on employers. In testimony to lawmakers, the group said requiring wage ranges and benefit descriptions in all job postings could reduce flexibility for companies that tailor compensation based on experience, qualifications or internal pay structures. The organization also raised concerns about the bill’s potential legal exposure, noting it authorizes statutory damages, punitive damages and attorney’s fees for violations. CBIA said even minor issues — such as wording in a wage range or disputes over how benefits are described — could expose employers to costly litigation. The group also warned that a requirement to annually provide employees with wage ranges and benefit descriptions could create administrative burdens, particularly for smaller businesses without dedicated human resources staff. Supporters of the bill say greater pay transparency would help address persistent wage gaps and give job seekers clearer information during the hiring process. State Rep. Kate Farrar (D-West Hartford) in written testimony said women working full-time in Connecticut typically earn about 83 cents for every dollar earned by men, with larger disparities for Black and Latina women. Posting salary ranges in job advertisements would remove the burden on applicants to ask about pay and help level the playing field between employers and job seekers, Farrar wrote. Tonishia Signore, policy director for the advocacy group She Leads Justice, said in written testimony wage transparency policies are an important tool for addressing pay inequities. Supporters also note that a growing number of states have adopted laws requiring salary ranges to be included in job postings.