It's time to scrap pay-secrecy policies.

Traditionally, employers have tried to keep a lid on compensation-related discord by asking employees not to discuss pay. But today, no-talk-about-pay rules are under legal assault, challenged for violating the law and helping perpetuate income inequality.

If you have such a rule, consider getting rid of it. Several laws make it clear that banning any discussion about pay is illegal. For example, the National Labor Relations Act allows employees to freely discuss pay as part of efforts to improve work conditions.

Recent case: A group of Disney employees sued, alleging gender pay discrimination. Now the women have added allegations that Disney "main-tains a strict policy of pay secrecy." The suit alleges that some women were told "multiple times by their...