Pay Transparency Laws in British Columbia
Regulations from British Columbia’s new Pay Transparency Act take effect on November 1, 2023. Notably, they involve new requirements regarding job postings and hiring practices.
As an employer in BC (or an employer with job postings open to BC residents) it is important for you to familiarize yourself with these new requirements and adhere to all legal guidelines.
Resources:
The following resources provide more information:
- Government of British Columbia: Pay Transparency Laws in B.C.
- Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM): “British Columbia Rolls Out Pay Transparency Requirements”
- Human Resource Director (HRD) Canada: “Are you ready? Province’s transparency act takes effect Nov. 1”
- Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP: “Update on British Columbia Pay Transparency Requirements”
Questions can be sent to PayTransparency@gov.bc.ca.
Some key points include:
- Employers must include the expected pay or pay range for a specific job opportunity advertised publicly
- This also applies to jobs posted by third parties on job search websites, job boards and other recruitment platforms on behalf of the employer
- This applies to jobs advertised in other jurisdictions if the position is open to BC residents and may ever be filled by someone living in BC, either in-person or remotely
- Employers cannot ask job applicants about what they have been paid at positions with other employers
- Employers cannot dismiss, suspend, demote, discipline or harass an employee who asks their employer about their pay or reveals their pay to another employee or applicant
Disclaimer: The information provided above does not constitute legal advice. It is for general informational purposes only and may not reflect the most up-to-date legal or other information. You should not act, or refrain from acting, based solely upon the information provided in this post. If you have specific questions about any legal matter, you should consult a lawyer or other appropriate professional services provider. This post contains links to third-party websites for the convenience of the reader—The Headhunters does not endorse nor is responsible for the contents of any third-party sites.