Bill > SB313

This bill, known as the Wage Opportunity and Transparency Act, establishes comprehensive wage transparency and anti-discrimination protections for employees in Montana. The bill prohibits employers from discriminating in wage rates based on sex, requiring employers to pay equal wages for substantially similar work unless the wage difference can be justified by specific, reasonable factors such as seniority, merit, production quantity/quality, geographic location, education, or travel requirements. Employers are forbidden from seeking an applicant's wage history, retaliating against employees who discuss wages, or requiring employees to sign documents prohibiting wage discussions. The bill mandates that employers with 15 or more employees must include wage ranges and benefit descriptions in job postings, make promotion opportunities known to all current employees simultaneously, and provide wage scale information upon employee request. Employers must also maintain employee wage records for the duration of employment plus two years. Employees who experience wage discrimination can file civil lawsuits within two years, seeking back pay and damages. The Commissioner of Labor is authorized to investigate complaints, with potential fines ranging from $500 to $10,000 per violation. If an employer fails to maintain proper wage records, courts may presume the records would have favored the employee's claim, providing an additional mechanism to encourage wage transparency and fair compensation practices.

Business and Industry, Justice

https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC0120