The Pennsylvania Independent Regulatory Review Commission has approved amendments to the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act (PHRA), which provide new definitions of race, sex and religious creed, and effectively protect against hairstyle discrimination. The new rules are set to take effect within 60 days of their publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.

Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney has signed into law the Employee Commuter Transit Benefit Ordinance. 

On May 23, 2017, the City of Philadelphia becomes one of the rare jurisdictions to prohibit employers from asking about or relying on—subject to limited exceptions-- a prospective employee’s wage history in setting employee compensation and benefits.