CLEVELAND, Ohio — Cleveland’s new pay transparency law takes effect today, marking the start of what could be a major shift in how employers across the city advertise and negotiate jobs.

The ordinance, approved unanimously by Cleveland City Council in April, requires employers to include salary ranges on job postings and prohibits them from asking applicants about their current or past pay.

Cleveland’s goal is to educate employers about the law rather than enforce it with penalties, but those who break the rules could face civil fines of up to $5,000.

“Our goal as a board is not to come down with a stick,” said Matt Ashton, owner of Lekko Coffee and chair of the Fair Employment Wage Board.

Supporters of the new rules say the goal is to narrow persistent wage gaps across gender and race

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