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The Gender Disclosure Gap: Salary History Bans Unravel When Men Volunteer Their Income

Author

Listed:
  • Bo Cowgill

    (Columbia Business School, New York, New York 10027)

  • Amanda Agan

    (Economics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14850)

  • Laura K. Gee

    (Economics, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155)

Abstract

This study investigates whether the success of salary history bans could be limited by job-seekers volunteering their salaries unprompted. We survey American workers in 2019 and 2021 about their recent job searches, distinguishing when candidates were asked about salary history from when they were not. Historically well-paid workers may have an incentive to disclose, and employers who are aware of this could infer that nondisclosing workers are concealing low salaries. Through this mechanism, all workers could face pressure to avoid the stigma of silence. Our data shows a large percentage of workers (28%) volunteer salary history, even when a ban prevents employers from asking. An additional 47% will disclose if enough other job candidates disclose. Men are more likely than women to disclose their salaries unprompted, especially if they believe other candidates are disclosing. Over our 1.5-year sample covering jurisdictions with (and without) bans, unprompted volunteering of salary histories increased by about 6–8 percentage points.

Suggested Citation

  • Bo Cowgill & Amanda Agan & Laura K. Gee, 2024. "The Gender Disclosure Gap: Salary History Bans Unravel When Men Volunteer Their Income," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 35(5), pages 1571-1588, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:ororsc:v:35:y:2024:i:5:p:1571-1588
    DOI: 10.1287/orsc.2023.17384
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