“I am deeply disappointed by yesterday’s defeat in the Senate of the Paycheck Fairness Act, which would have effectively helped to close the gender wage gap and protect women and people of color from unfair and unequal workplace treatment by employers. Right here in New York we also face an uphill battle to pass the Fair Paycheck Act, which would secure such rights and protections under the law for New Yorkers.
“It is unconscionable that, in this day and age, people are still experiencing discrimination from their employers based on gender or race. These kinds of inequities are a threat not only to collective efforts to ensure diversity in the workforce, but also to our ability to achieve sustainable economic recovery and growth. By ensuring that are people are able to contribute equally to the economy — and receive fair reward and compensation for those contributions — we are helping to strengthen our nation’s future. We must not let yesterday’s disappointing news be the end of the story.
“As a long-time advocate for fair and equal pay, former Director of Equal Employment Opportunity, and current board member of the NY Women’s Agenda, I will not stop until equal pay for equal work ceases to be an anomaly. I call on all advocates for equity and inclusion to join me in rallying behind the NY Fair Paycheck Act and making sure it does not meet the same fate. I hope you will join me.”
As a Payroll and Compliance professional I come across this very often. What I’ve observed is that some employers feel like they are doing their “deed” by hiring diversity and this in some strange way makes it ok to pay a woman less than her male counterparts. Of course this is not said out loud, but in comparing job titles and responsibilities it becomes evident.