CA AB1676

Prior salary cannot, by itself, justify any wage disparity under the "bona fide factor" exception to California's equal pay law.

Employers must demonstrate that wage differentials are based on factors such as seniority systems, merit systems, production-based systems, or job-related factors unrelated to sex-based discrimination.

Employees can recover unpaid wages, interest, liquidated damages equal to the wage amount, and reasonable attorney's fees through civil action or Division of Labor Standards Enforcement complaints.

Employers are prohibited from retaliating against employees who disclose wages, discuss coworkers' wages, or inquire about other employees' compensation.

The bill incorporates provisions from SB 1063 regarding race and ethnicity-based wage discrimination if both bills are enacted before January 1, 2017.