The proposed bill introduces the Katherine Johnson and Dorothy Vaughan Fair Pay Act, which aims to enhance wage transparency and protect the rights of applicants and employees in West Virginia. It establishes that employers must provide applicants with the range of wages, benefits, and other compensation for the position they are applying for. Additionally, the bill prohibits employers from retaliating against applicants for inquiring about compensation or for not disclosing their wage history. It also outlines that employers can only inquire about wage history after making an initial offer of employment, and applicants are free to share their wage history voluntarily.

Furthermore, the bill grants employees the right to inquire about and discuss their own and others' wages without fear of employer retaliation. Employers are prohibited from restricting these discussions or requiring employees to sign waivers that deny them the right to disclose wage information. The bill also provides a cause of action for individuals who suffer violations of these rights, allowing them to seek compensatory damages, attorney fees, and injunctive relief in court. Overall, the legislation aims to address pay discrimination and promote fair compensation practices in the workplace.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 21-5J-1, 21-5J-2, 21-5J-3, 21-5J-4, 21-5J-5