California’s May 2027 pay data reports will use 23 job categories based on the federal Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system, replacing the 10 EEO-1 categories used in prior reports. Employers should consider using the remainder of 2026 to map their jobs into the new categories, resolve classification questions, and check that their systems can support
California
Senate Bill 642 Updates California’s Equal Pay Act
Posted in California, Pay Equity
Governor Newsom signed Senate Bill (SB) 642 on October 8, 2025, revising California’s Equal Pay Act. Effective January 1, 2026, the amendments refine key definitions, including “pay scale,” “sex,” and “wages,” and limit the period to obtain relief to six years.
For more details about SB 642, read the full analysis here.
California Poised to Expand Pay Transparency, Reporting Obligations
Posted in Pay Equity
A bill to increase pay transparency in California steps closer to becoming law.
Senate Bill 1162, introduced in February and with some amendments since its initial form, passed the Assembly Appropriations Committee on August 11. Only a few steps are left before it could become law this legislative session: (1) a full Assembly…
California Draft Bill Doubles Down on Pay Transparency
Posted in Pay Equity
On February 17, the California Senate introduced SB 1162, which—if passed—could give California the most aggressive pay transparency laws in the nation. Again. The draft California law enhances two common state law pay transparency strategies: proactive wage range disclosure and pay data reporting.
Proactive Wage Range Disclosure
California was the first state in…
New Year, Same Old California Pay Data Reporting Requirements
By Christopher T. Patrick on
Posted in California, Pay Equity
After many delays, employers nationwide just filed their 2020 EEO-1 reports in November. But it’s already time for California employers to begin preparing their annual pay data submission to the Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH). The Background In 2020, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law Senate Bill (SB) 973,…
The Emerging Trend in State Pay Transparency Laws
Posted in Pay Equity
The push for pay equity has moved beyond prohibiting pay discrimination and into requiring employers encourage pay transparency for applicants and employees.
At the federal level, the National Labor Relations Act can protect discussions involving compensation as concerted activity. For federal contractors, OFCCP prohibits policies that discourage pay transparency. Many states have followed suit —…
Patchwork of Pay Transparency Laws Continues to Evolve
Posted in Pay Equity
State legislatures continue to pass laws designed to enhance pay equity and transparency, with the laws of California and Colorado effective in 2021. The California law requires employee pay data reporting by race and gender, and the Colorado law requires robust pay and promotional transparency.
California
Under California’s pay data reporting law (SB 973), most…
California Publishes User Guide and Templates for Pay Data Reporting
By Christopher T. Patrick & Lisa B. Marsh on
Posted in Pay Equity
California SB 973 requires employers that (1) file EEO-1 reports and (2) employ more than 100 employees to submit data to the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) annually that shows pay by race and gender for their California employees. It was signed into law on September 30, 2020, and DFEH has been…
California Announces Pay Data Reporting Portal Will Open by February 15, 2021
By Christopher T. Patrick & Susan E. Groff on
Posted in Pay Equity
California’s Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) continues to advance toward the March 31, 2021 pay data collection deadline. When SB 973 was passed in September, DFEH had six months to develop and implement a data collection system that could accomplish the task. It is delivering. DFEH issued its first guidance on November…
California Issues Additional Guidance on What Pay Data Reports will Require
Posted in Pay Equity
The deadline for employers to comply with California’s pay data reporting requirement (Senate Bill 973) and submit pay data to the Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) is March 31, 2021.
The DFEH has launched an information page that provides needed clarity on certain obligations and has issued additional guidance on the…