Job Seekers in Minnesota Could Benefit from this New Law

When I moved to Minnesota in September of 2023, my wife and I moved here for my job with Townsquare Media. During the process of looking for a new opportunity, I had countless interviews for jobs with other companies that I found out later could not pay me the amount I needed to make.  

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Those were jobs that I would not have taken my time to apply for had I known that there was such a gap in their top line number and my bottom number. 

If you’ve been looking for a job in Minnesota and running into a similar situation, there’s a change in employment laws taking effect on January 1st that will help you have better information up front. 

Fox 9 reports that the Minnesota Pay Transparency Law was signed into law by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz in May.  

The new law says that if an employer posts a job opening, they must include a good faith salary range or a fixed rate of pay in the job opening. Companies must also include information on the benefits that are offered as well. 

This makes it easier for folks who were like me and looking for a new job to know whether it was worth exploring or not. 

There is some opposition to this law, however. Some people believe that doing this reduces the opportunity to negotiate for a higher salary. Others say that this law could make it possible for employers to present a larger swing in pay ranges, which may lean more toward the lower end than the higher. 

I’m sure companies who have lawyers and human resources professionals who understand the legal side of posting job openings will find ways to keep their cards as closer to their vest as possible. I guess only time will tell how this benefits those looking for jobs or if it will be more of the same.