The Senate moved legislation prohibiting employers from seeking certain information from applicants during the hiring process. Specifically, the legislation bans asking about past pay, fringe benefits, credit report, or credit history. Additionally, it would ban employers from preventing employees from discussing wages in the workplace.
According to the bill sponsor, Senator Sarah Anthony (D-Lansing), the legislation was crafted from the best-practice recommendations of labor economists and civil rights groups. A number of other states have passed similar legislation. The bill was moved to third reading on the Senate floor and awaits a final vote by the full chamber.
“As President and CEO of the Michigan Black Business Alliance, representing thousands of small business owners across our state, I can say clearly that wage transparency and fair hiring practices are not barriers to small business success — they are drivers of it,” said Charity Dean, President and CEO of Black Business Alliance (an MLC client). “Small businesses thrive when they can compete for the best talent, and that means evaluating people based on their skills and potential, not their credit history or what someone else chose to pay them. When we remove those barriers, we create stronger businesses, more equitable workplaces, and a more competitive economy for everyone.”
