Question and answer
Can an employer ask about my salary history?
By Mihai Postolache, founder of Egalis ·
In short
No. Art. 5(2) of the Directive prohibits employers from asking applicants about their pay in current or previous employment relationships — in interviews, in forms, anywhere in the hiring process. Asking about your salary expectations remains allowed.
In detail
The ban exists because anchoring offers to past pay imports historical discrimination into every new contract — it is one of the mechanisms that keeps the gap alive.
If an application form or recruiter asks for your current salary or a payslip, that is precisely what the Directive prohibits.
The distinction that matters: "what do you earn now?" is banned; "what are your expectations?" is fine.
More questions with direct answers: the FAQ.
Next step
Create your account
Start is free under 50 employees; from 50 up, 14 free days, no card. Your data: full export, any time.