Washington Justices Clarify Who Is ‘Applicant’ in Job Ad Pay Case

The Washington Supreme Court said that an individual is considered a “job applicant” under the state pay transparency law if they applied to a posting, regardless of whether they had a bona fide desire for the position.

The state high court’s Thursday response to a federal court’s certified question clarified the reach of the Washington Equal Pay and Opportunities Act, which was amended in 2022 to require employers to disclose wage scale, salary range, and benefits information in all job postings.

This interpretation will likely clear the way for more claims, and may disconcert critics who have cautioned that the ...