What is salary transparency?

Salary transparency is the practice of making salary information accessible and clear to employees, job candidates, and sometimes the public. This can range from disclosing salary ranges in job postings to providing your employees with access to pay scales (as well as the criteria used to determine compensation).

The degree of transparency can vary from partial (e.g., sharing broad ranges) to full (e.g., disclosing individual salaries).

By adopting a transparent approach to salaries, your company:

Promotes fairness. Salary transparency ensures that employees are compensated fairly for their work, reducing wage disparities based on gender, race, or other factors.
Builds trust -Transparency in pay fosters trust between employees and management, as it demonstrates that compensation decisions are based on clear and equitable criteria.
Attracts talent -Salary transparency can be a powerful tool in attracting top talent, as candidates appreciate knowing what to expect in terms of compensation.
Enhances employee satisfaction -Employees who understand how their pay is determined are more likely to feel valued and satisfied with their compensation.

Salary transparency laws

Salary transparency laws are regulations that require employers to disclose certain information about compensation. These laws can vary by country, state, or region and may include requirements such as:

Mandatory disclosure in job postings

Some jurisdictions — such as Latvia, and the US state of Colorado — require employers to include salary ranges in job advertisements to ensure candidates have a clear understanding of the potential compensation before applying.

Pay equity reporting

Employers may be required to report on pay equity, demonstrating that they are paying employees fairly regardless of gender, race, or other protected characteristics.

Employee access to pay information

Laws may grant employees the right to inquire about and discuss their wages with colleagues without fear of retaliation.

Anti-retaliation protections

Employees may be protected from retaliation if they discuss or disclose their pay with others, supporting a culture of openness and fairness.

Salary transparency