Leverage These Stats on Equal Pay Day and Beyond

Leverage These Stats on Equal Pay Day and BeyondLeverage These Stats on Equal Pay Day and BeyondAs we kick off April with Equal Pay Day, use this month to propel yourself forward in your career or job search by strengthening your negotiating power. A smart first step is to catch up on some of the latest news and trends around the pay gemeinsame agrarpolitik to inform your approach and strategies.Here are some recent highlights of studies about the pay gap and initiatives that are pushing for equal payBiases, not choices.Findings of a new poll released by the American Association of University Women (AAUW) at the end of March found that most Americans- nearly 60%- believe that biases in the workplace are responsible for the in richtungder pay gap. Less than a quarter (23%) of Americans surveyed attribute the gap to womens career choices. In a recent public statement, Kim Churches, CEO of the AAUW, said People of all ages, across all demographics, are well aware that women still face b arriers and biases in the workplace. Most Americans find this unacceptable, and thats why there is so much momentum toward policies and practices to close the gender pay gap.Different treatment in negotiating situations.The AAUW study also found that in terms of advocating for higher pay, three-quarters of Americans say men and women receive unequal treatment in the area of pay negotiations. Over half of Americans (52%) believe men receive better access than women to training, information, and resources that help with successful pay negotiations.Motherhood penalty still in effect.The National Womens Law Center (NWLC) has reported that mothers receive only 71 cents for each dollar that fathers are paid, creating a 21% motherhood wage gap. While moms get the equivalent of docked pay upon becoming parents, new dads have been found to receive a fatherhood bonus, the AAUW reports. Lest you assume this gap is trivial, be aware that the 29-cent gap translates to a $16K shortfall for women each year. Some states do even worse than this, with Utah and Louisiana the worst offenders, paying mothers only 58 cents for each dollar paid to fathers- creating an unconscionable 42% wage gap.Latinas and black women fare the worst.The NWLC recently announced that the wage gap costs Latinas over $1.1 million during their career, and costs black women more than $946,000 in lost earnings. The NWLC hasstate-by-state rankings of the lifetime wage gap.Salary transparency can help close the pay gap.The AAUW has identified salary transparency- being open about employees pay scales and salary bands- as key to closing the gender pay gap. The organization found that 57% of Americans reported having discussed, or being open to discussing, their pay with coworkers. Younger workers (millennials and gen Z) are more likely to talk about their salary with colleagues than older generations (68%, compared to 55% of gen X and 49% of baby boomers).House passes Paycheck Fairness Act of 2019.A new bill that was just passed by the House is designed to help with pay transparency. If enacted into law, the Paycheck Fairness Act would protect employees from retaliation for discussing their salary with coworkers. Employers could no longer fire workers for sharing these details, and this legal protection would help reveal gender-based pay disparities as more workers would be empowered to compare their numbers.Salary history bans increase.The Paycheck Fairness Act is also poised to prohibit employers from using salary history as part of new salary determinations, which will help stop the unfair practice of low pay based on gender-based salary disparities following women from job to job, and company to company. The AAUW reported in March that an expanding number of states and localities are passing laws that prevent employers from asking job candidates about their past salaries. An AAUW map shows which states regulate discussion of salary history.The fact is, public support for pay equity is at an all-time high, according to the AAUW. Leveraging this momentum by supporting legislative efforts to create systemwide change can ultimately help make the gender pay gap a thing of the past for all Americans.