theSkimm - Pay me what you owe me

March 14, 2023

Read in browser

Sixty years after it became illegal to pay men more for similar work, we’re still playing catch-up. Here are some of the moves legislators and employers can make to help us kiss this ‘holiday’ goodbye once and for all.   

👶 Expand paid leave, affordable child care, and worker protections.

Women tend to experience lower pay increases and have fewer advancement opportunities after returning from parental leave. They also do nearly three times the unpaid care work of men. This can eat into time and energy available for work, often translating to lower earning potential.

🔎 Conduct pay equity audits and increase pay transparency. 

This would help workers negotiate better, and challenge employers to acknowledge patterns and fix pay disparities. 

📈 Make it easier for women to advance at work.

For every 100 men who are promoted from entry-level roles to manager positions, only 87 women are promoted — and, for women of color, only 82. What can companies do about that? Train managers on bias, embrace flexibility, and expand access to mentorship and sponsorship.

It’s not up to women alone to close the pay gap. But there are a few things everyone can do to help push things forward…  

💬 Talk openly about your salary.

So fewer people unknowingly accept less than they’re worth. 

🛍️ Support women-owned businesses.

Not sure where to start? Here are some of our favorites. 

🗳️ Vote.

Do what you can to get politicians who will prioritize progress in power. 

 📣 Spread the word.

True gender equality everywhere would raise global GDP by up to $28 trillion. Yep, trillion with a T.