Bridging the Gap Between Wage Gap and Pay Equity

Even with improvements in workplace equality, differences in pay by gender, race, and other factors are still found in many places in the U.S. Making sure all work is paid equally continues to be a big issue for millions of workers.

This blog looks at the challenges of wage disparities, examines what leads to them, and proposes actions individuals and employers can take to reduce these inequalities. Hire lawyers that handle workplace harassment and similar issues.

Current State of Pay Equity in the US

On average, women earn only 82% of every dollar that men make, reports Pew Research. The difference is larger for people of color—for Black women, it’s 63 cents, and Latina women just 55 cents. Black and Hispanic men are still earning less than White men on average. Mothers often lose 4% of their earnings for every child, but fathers tend to earn an extra 6% per child.

What are the Reasons Behind This Massive Wage Gap?

Many issues in the system are behind the large differences in wages.

1. Due to occupational segregation, both women and minorities are more likely to work in low-paying professions, but most STEM areas are reserved for men.
2. Many times, bias in distributing jobs and promotions has an effect on who gets a higher salary.
3. Transparent pay levels encourage women to have conversations about their wages, but because motherhood and caregiving often cause women to slow down in their careers, the wage gap continues to grow.

How to Achieve Pay Equality?

Dealing with pay equity means that both policymakers and workplaces need to get involved. I

1. It is illegal to discriminate in pay by using gender as a factor, thanks to the Equal Pay Act of 1963.
2. California and Colorado now require info on salary ranges in job postings, and over 20 states have laws against using a person’s previous salary when deciding how much to pay them.
3. Employers can do this by auditing pay rates, using fair compensation scales, giving bias training, and helping with negotiation workshops.
4. Employees may choose to understand what others are earning, negotiate for better pay, and talk openly about their pay with coworkers, which is allowed by the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA).

Workplace Issues Related to Wage Gaps

It is still a challenge that women and people of color are ignored when choosing for leadership positions. Some firms deduct money from remote workers, which usually has a bigger effect on women. Many Uber drivers are abused in the gig economy because, unlike regular employees, they usually cannot receive benefits, job safety,or minimum wage mandates. Talk to a Wage and hour attorney for help.

Getting Professional Help

If you are not paid as much as your coworkers, retaliated against for speaking about your salary, or left out of promotions or pay raises, you might need to talk to a lawyer. If you want to file a claim, the EEOC can help you, the AAUW offers training for negotiating salaries, and you can hire a labor lawyer on a contingency basis for your pay equity case.