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0 pointsllbeansandrice4y ago0 comments

> salary

Colorado now requires job postings to include something more or less like a "reasonable salary range". It hasn't been perfect, for example there are some companies who now just restrict their online job postings to say "except Colorado" instead of adding a salary.

But as someone living in Colorado it's been nice to know the salary range up-front more often and to have confidence that I can ask them for a salary range without getting the question turned back on me: "Well, what are you looking for?"

0 comments

dmlittle4y ago

In California recruiters are legally obligated to disclose the salary range upon request.

p1esk4y ago

Source?

dmlittle4y ago

AB No.168[1], specifically 432.3(c)

(c) An employer, upon reasonable request, shall provide the pay scale for a position to an applicant applying for employment.

[1] https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml...

p1esk4y ago

Thank you. It says there: “The bill would specify that a violation of its provisions would not be subject to the misdemeanor provision”.

So it seems it’s not enforced.

slownews454y ago

I think as they start enforcing things more employers will avoid colorado until kinks worked out.

If you have a janitor in CO, every job is an improvement and potential promotion. Having to first go to that janitor for every position is going to wear out FAST. Posting for the CTO position? Go to janitor first. Posting for CEO position - same thing - that's what is going to drive folks away.

sgerenser4y ago

In my experience this is worse than nothing, because the posted pay is so much lower than the companies are actually willing to offer. Positions posted for FAANG that I know are offering $250k+ total comp are posted with statements like “pay starting at $110,000 but varies based on your unique qualifications and experience”.

llbeansandriceOP4y ago

I'm unsure of exact enforcement and such but you could report them if you wanted. I also don't mind FAANG so much since there's so much info available for those positions on like levels.fyi.

The biggest strength for me is that I can ask them and they have to tell me. When I was job searching before I'd ask the recruiter and then they'd always ask me what my target is. Not showing your cards is like negotiation 101. Plus it's made fielding messages and emails easier. If they provide a range, I can just easily say "This position sounds interesting but unfortunately the salary range isn't what I'm looking for currently."

You're right that a lot of positions aren't great about this, I've literally seen "Pay starting at $0.01" or ranges literally $30k to +$200k. But I've seen it as a benefit in the negotiation process and it's just been easier to field recruiters.

> total comp

This law only covers salary as far as I know, so equity and such aren't included. Total comp is different.

sgerenser4y ago

True but if equity is ~50% of compensation at many tech companies, but also varies hugely, being forced to reveal base pay doesn’t mean much.

llbeansandriceOP4y ago

I guess not, but this is also a law that applies to _all_ job postings for CO. I feel like a lot of people are criticizing this law when I see it as an absolute step in the right direction.

It's not perfect, but I feel like it's wildly helpful for a ton of people. It helps transparency for a lot of positions and I feel like it rewards honest companies. If equity and bonuses are a big part I think it reduces the overhead for talking about salary to clear the way to talk more about equity and bonuses.

It's also in the early stages and CO is the only state with a law that requires disclosure up-front to my knowledge (someone mentioned CA has a law, but they only have to answer if asked). It feels like a fantastic first-step to me.

throwawaysea4y ago

There's an HN discussion about this Colorado requirement now: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=27546384

Unfortunately it looks like companies can just state wide ranges (which don't help applicants understand the market any better) and they can also omit other compensation elements beyond the base salary component (stocks, cash bonuses). That makes the disclosed information not very useful.

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0 comments

dmlittle4y ago

In California recruiters are legally obligated to disclose the salary range upon request.

p1esk4y ago

Source?

dmlittle4y ago

AB No.168[1], specifically 432.3(c)

(c) An employer, upon reasonable request, shall provide the pay scale for a position to an applicant applying for employment.

[1] https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml...

p1esk4y ago

Thank you. It says there: “The bill would specify that a violation of its provisions would not be subject to the misdemeanor provision”.

So it seems it’s not enforced.

slownews454y ago

I think as they start enforcing things more employers will avoid colorado until kinks worked out.

sgerenser4y ago

llbeansandriceOP4y ago

I'm unsure of exact enforcement and such but you could report them if you wanted. I also don't mind FAANG so much since there's so much info available for those positions on like levels.fyi.

> total comp

This law only covers salary as far as I know, so equity and such aren't included. Total comp is different.

sgerenser4y ago

True but if equity is ~50% of compensation at many tech companies, but also varies hugely, being forced to reveal base pay doesn’t mean much.

llbeansandriceOP4y ago

I guess not, but this is also a law that applies to _all_ job postings for CO. I feel like a lot of people are criticizing this law when I see it as an absolute step in the right direction.

throwawaysea4y ago

There's an HN discussion about this Colorado requirement now: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=27546384

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse