On Wednesday, December 21, 2022, Governor Kathy Hochul signed the Salary Transparency Act (Legislation S.9427-A/A. 10477) implementing pay transparency across New York State. Effective September 17, 2023, the law requires employers with four or more employees to disclose salary ranges for all advertised jobs, promotions and transfer opportunities for positions that, at least in part, “can or will be performed” in New York State. The Act also requires that employers keep and maintain all necessary records to comply with the requirements, including the history of compensation ranges for each position and any job descriptions if applicable. Any person who claims to be aggrieved by employer noncompliance may file a complaint with the labor commissioner.
The act parallels New York City’s Salary Transparency Law that went into effect in November 2022. These new laws are the latest in a national trend of wage transparency aimed at combating racial and gender-based wealth gaps. Salary transparency laws seek to both encourage employers to adopt better pay practices and empower workers with necessary information to ensure they are receiving proper and fair compensation.