Ohio: New Salary History and Pay Transparency Law
|
APPLIES TO All Employers with Employees in Cleveland, OH |
EFFECTIVE October 27, 2025 |
QUESTIONS? Contact HR On-Call |
Quick Look
|
Discussion:
Effective October 27, 2025, Cleveland’s Ordinance 104-2025 will require employers to include pay transparency in their job postings and prohibit them from asking about an applicant’s salary history. Both requirements apply to any individual, firm, limited liability company, partnership, association, labor organization, corporation, or any other entity, whether or not organized for profit, and including any agent, that employs fifteen or more individuals within the City of Cleveland.
Prohibition on Salary History Inquiries
Employers are prohibited from:
- Asking about the salary history of an applicant;
- Screening an applicant based on their current or prior salary history;
- Relying on salary history to decide whether to make an offer or using it to determine the salary for the applicant during the hiring process or contract negotiation; and
- Refusing to hire or otherwise retaliate against an applicant for not disclosing their salary history.
Employers are permitted to ask applicants about their expectations regarding salary or deferred compensation that an applicant may forfeit by resigning from a current employer.
Pay Transparency
Employers are required to include a salary range or scale in a job posting, including those posted by job placement and referral agencies. The posting requirement applies to both new applicants and applicants for internal transfer or promotion with their current employer. The Ordinance does not provide any definition for salary range or pay scale.
The Cleveland Fair Employment Wage Board is tasked with enforcing the Ordinance. Violations of the Ordinance can result in a civil penalty not to exceed $1,000 for the first violation, up to $2,500 for the second violation, and up to $5,000 for subsequent violations.
Action Items
- Review the Ordinance here.
- Review and update job postings.
- Update hiring policies to include prohibition on salary history inquiries.
- Have appropriate personnel trained on the requirements.
Disclaimer: This document is designed to provide general information and guidance concerning employment-related issues. It is presented with the understanding that ManagEase is not engaged in rendering any legal opinions. If a legal opinion is needed, please contact the services of your own legal adviser. © 2025 ManagEase