PathWays PA Policy Blog

April 2, 2019 12:00 - 1:00 pm Cohosted by PathWays PA, Friends of the Delaware County Women's Commission, Delaware County BPW, and District 10 BPW Women's Commission Join us on Equal Pay Day to learn more about Equal Pay affects you and what you can do about it! Whether you're an employer or employee, there are ways that you can make the workplace more equitable for everyone. Sign up  here  or join the meeting at https://zoom.us/j/913032585

On May 30, 2018, we "celebrate" the date when the earnings of all moms catch up to the earnings of all dads - from the previous year. That's right - it takes moms 17 months to earn the same amount that dads do in 12. In the United States, mothers earn 71 cents of every dollar paid to fathers, even though 70% of US families have income from a working mother.  Over their lifetime, mothers with one child earn 28% less compared to childless women. That comes out to a median loss of $1,278 per month.  Women and families are not jeopardized by the lack of income during a mother's working life - the lack of pay equity follows mothers into retirement, where they have less money in Social Security and less saved for retirement. Join us today on Twitter to learn more and spread the word about Mom's Equal Pay Day !

On April 10, we "celebrate" Equal Pay Day, the date when women's earnings catch up with men's earnings from the previous year. And, in an era where mothers are increasingly the breadwinners in a family, we need equal pay now more than ever. 42% of families rely on mothers to earn at least half of their families' wages . An additional 22% are considered "co-breadwinners," which means they bring in at least a quarter of the money seen by a family in a given year. When these mothers - or anyone - is underpaid, the entire family suffers. In 2015, the National Women's Law Center calculated that the wage gap amounts to annual loss of $10,876 for women . That adds up to five months of groceries, three months of rent and utilities, three months of child care payments, four months of health insurance, four months of student loans, and seven tanks of gas. Women and their families aren't the only people who lose out due to the wage gap. People of co...

Pay discrimination is an ongoing issue for Pennsylvania’s women . At the current rate of wage growth, it will take another 40 years ( at least ) before women and men earn the same amount. One step in addressing wage inequality is ensuring that a history of low salaries does not follow a woman into a new workplace. Women’s wages are lower than men’s from the first year out of college . At that point, women working full time earn an average of $35,296 while men earn $42,918. These lower wages are compounded when women (or men of color) apply for new jobs and are asked to share their pay history. Instead of starting the new job on an equal footing, they enter with a lower salary because it was based on their previous employment. Then, after another year of work, their wages are unlikely to grow at the same rate as men’s wages. As women get older, the wage gap continues to grow . If employers stop asking for salary histories, workers will gain the ability to earn what their work is a...

Take action on equal pay - by asking Senators to vote against an equal pay bill. Sounds a little strange, I know. But a supposed "equal pay" bill currently before the Senate called the Workplace Advancement Act wouldn't actually help when it comes to equal pay. Here are some details from our friends at NWLC , who are also offering a way to take action here . How does the Workplace Advancement Act fall short? Here are four key ways: • It provides super-narrow protection for talking about salary if you do so specifically to figure out whether you are being paid equally for equal work — but your employer would still be able to fire you for casual water cooler conversations about pay with co-workers — even though these sorts of conversations are how pay discrimination is often accidentally discovered. • It doesn't close the huge loopholes employers use to pay discriminatory wages. • It doesn't include penalties that would encourage employers to audit how the...

On April 30th, 2014, Congressman Jerry McNerney (CA-09) introduced the Getting into Researching, Learning and Studying of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (GIRLS STEM) Act, a bill that would establish a program at the U.S. Department of Education to ensure that more female students have access to and participate in STEM education and training. This program would provide grants to local educational agencies that develop plans to encourage young women to study STEM, educate parents about STEM opportunities for their children, provide training and mentoring opportunities for students, and prepare secondary students for college STEM programs. "When women succeed, we all succeed. With more women in STEM jobs, we'll help grow our economy and make sure we're competitive with the rest of the world," said Congressman McNerney, who is a mathematician and wind energy engineer himself. Women hold less than a quarter of STEM related jobs despite the fact that...

The American Association of University Women (AAUW) has released the 2015 edition of their guide , "The Simple Truth about the Gender Pay Gap." Since the 1970s, when women's annual earnings were only 57% of men's annual earnings for full-time workers, the gender pay gap has narrowed, due in part to women's advances in education and workforce participation. Still, in 2013 women were only making 78% of men's earnings and, in the past decade, the pay gap has barely budged. After accounting for college major, occupation, economic sector, hours worked, months unemployed since graduation, GPA, type of undergraduate institution, institution selectivity, age, geographical region, and marital status, AAUW found that only one year after graduation there was a 7% difference in the earnings of male and female college graduates that could not be explained . This gap only increases with time and age. Women also experience other barriers in the workforce, such as the...

As early as today, the US Senate could vote on legislation that would help to close the current wage gap between men and women. The Paycheck Fairness Act would close loopholes that remain in the Equal Pay Act while preventing retaliation against workers who compare their pay. While it has been more than 50 years since the Equal Pay Act was passed, women still face a significant wage gap when compared with men. On average, women earn 77% of the wages that men earn. The money that families lose to the pay gap each year could cover 89 weeks worth of food or 3,000 gallons of gasoline per household. Take action now to show that #WeMatter! Email  or call your senators ASAP to share how you feel about Equal Pay! Interested in PathWays PA blog posts on similar topics? 8/26/14 - #WeMatter on Women's Equality Day: Tweet Storm at 1PM and 9PM 6/11/14 - Join MomsRising & AAUW for a #MomsEqualPay Tweet Chat Tomorrow! 5/3/14 - Join us on Monday! FREE Workshop on Women and Work...

From our friends at Family Values at Work Today we celebrate the 19th amendment, when Congress stopped denying women the right to vote. Of course for decades, women of color were still denied access to the polls. August 26th is about all women who continue to raise their voices in the face of injustice – who say, pay attention, we matter! Today, women across the country are standing up and speaking to lawmakers with a similar message: #WeMatter We are women and families, and the changes we need matter. Women’s economic security matters. Our votes matter. We matter. Pay attention, those running for office. #Wematter isn’t just a hashtag; it’s notice to elected officials that there’s a linked policy agenda that values families and the work they do. And we’re watching. But we can’t do it without you. To raise the floor and remove the barriers for all women and families, we need your help. Here’s what you can do. Ask two friends to sign up to get involved in local, state ...

From our friends at MomsRising MomsRising and expert guests from the American Association of University Women (AAUW) invite you to join #MomsEqualPay Day - tomorrow, June 12th at 3pm EDT - to discuss the wage gap faced by moms.  Did you know that on average moms who work full time, year round, make only 69 cents for every dollar paid to dads? Tweetchats are a great way to raise awareness about important issues, share resources, and increase your Twitter following. Here are a few model tweets to share: Join us 2 chat on #MomsEqualPay! @AAUW & other experts answer your q's & we'll break down what it means 4 families 6/12 3pmET PlsRT! What's the latest on #momsequalpay in the US? Join @MomsRising, @AAUW experts 2 chat: 6/12 3pmET PlsRT!  It's time 4 #MomsEqualPay! Join @MomsRising & @AAUW 4 our tweetchat on how/why #women & #families can speak out: 6/12 3pmET

PathWays PA is excited to announce that we will be partnering with the U. S. Department of Labor Women's Bureau, The Free Library of Philadelphia and the EEOC for a discussion on women and the workplace. The event will take place this Monday, May 5, from 2:00PM-4:00PM in room 108 of the Philadelphia Free Library Parkway Central Branch located at 1901 Vine Street . Topics to be discussed include: Equal Pay Paid Leave Compensation/Wages Negotiation Register for the event by calling the Women's Bureau at 215-861-4864 or sign up online . All attendees will receive a negotiation checklist to take home with them. PathWays PA actively advocates for equal protections in the workplace, equal pay and paid leave on the local, state and national levels.

Today is Equal Pay Day, the day that marks how far women must work in the new year to catch up to what men earned last year. There are a number of activities scheduled across the country, including a TweetStorm at 2PM that will use the hashtags #EqualPayDay and #NoMadMenPay. As part of Equal Pay Day, President Obama is expected to announce two new executive orders on equal pay, while the Senate plans to take up the Paycheck Fairness Act today or tomorrow. Closing the wage gap is important to all families, not just to women. Each year, families lose the equivalent of 89 weeks worth of food or 3,000 gallons of gasoline because of unequal pay. Today is a day that you can take action on this issue by speaking to your legislators and by supporting women and girls who are working to make change in our region. This Equal Pay Day, please make plans to join Friends of the Delaware County Women's Commission in paying tribute to Delaware County women at the Friends' Annual Dinner on...

From our friends at MomsRising Today is Equal Pay Day, the day we mark as the point when women's earnings (beginning on January 1, 2013) catch up with men's earnings for 2013. Today is also the day that the Senate will once again take up the Paycheck Fairness Act. Passage of the Paycheck Fairness Act is an important step in the campaign to close the wage gap. The Paycheck Fairness Act would, among other things, prohibit employers from retaliating against workers who discuss salaries with colleagues. It would also require employers to prove that any pay differences exist for legitimate, job-related reasons. As an organization that works with women and families, PathWays PA knows the value of equal work for equal pay. The money that families lose to the pay gap each year could cover 89 weeks worth of food or 3,000 gallons of gasoline per family. Now is the time to make sure Senators are listening and to tell them if you support the Paycheck Fairness Act!

Today, American women are still paid only 77 cents for every dollar paid to men, nine out of ten American workers don't have paid family leave and nearly 40 million don't have a single paid sick day. Plus - there is a critical need for affordable, quality child care in this country. We can change that. Tomorrow, PathWays PA, our allies, and champions in Congress invite you to join an unprecedented national conversation - moderated by actor Cynthia Nixon - about these issues and the changes that will advance income equality and economic security for women and families in America. Can you make it? Here are the details: WHAT : Let's Talk About It: Advancing women and families in 2014 A National Tele-Townhall Event on fair pay, paid leave, and access to child care WHEN : Wednesday, January 29, 2014 Anniversary of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act 8:30 p.m. ET  WHERE : From the comfort of your phone No numbers to dial, we'll call you to connect to the event  ...

Friends of the Delaware County Women's Commission will be hosting a Women's Leadership Breakfast Thursday, October 17, from 8:00AM-9:30AM to celebrate the anniversary of the Equal Pay Act. The event will take place at: Neumann University, Mirenda Center for Sport, Spirituality, and Character Development - Bayada Atrium located at One Neumann Drive in Aston. Panelists include: Dianne Mills McKay- Trainer, Adjunct Professor, and Consultant on Gender Equity  Marianne Bellesorte- Senior Director of Public Policy and Media Relations, PathWays PA  For more information and to RSVP please contact Carol Dougherty at 610-543-7368 or cdoughertyncc@hotmail.com

The Women's Bureau is pleased to inform you of the following resources: " A Guide to Women's Equal Pay   Rights " and " An Employer's Guide to Equal Pay ". Translations of these resources can be found on the following site: www.dol.gov/equalpay/ . Their resources are available in English, French, Spanish, Chinese, and Vietnamese. The Women's Bureau strives to improve the working conditions of women through research and education. Their priorities are equal pay, workplace flexibility, higher paying jobs for women, and women veterans. Throughout the year, the Women's Bureau Region 3 office conducts outreach and research on these issues within the states they cover (PA, DE, MD, WV, VA, and DC).

From our friends at the Women's Bureau. The Women’s Bureau is pleased to inform you of the following resources: “A Guide to Women’s Equal Pay Rights” and “An Employer’s Guide to Equal Pay”. Translations of these resources can be found on the following site: http://www.dol.gov/equalpay/ . Our resources are available in English, French, Spanish, Chinese, and Vietnamese. The Women’s Bureau strives to improve the working conditions of women through research and education. Our priorities are Equal Pay, Workplace Flexibility, Higher Paying Jobs for Women, and Women Veterans. Throughout the year, the Women’s Bureau Region 3 office conducts outreach and research on these issues within the states we cover (PA, DE, MD, WV, VA, and DC). We hope you will use these resources to inform your network, especially women and girls, of their equal pay and compensation rights. If you have any questions or would like our agency to do a presentation at your school or organization, please do n...

Here is a disturbing fact: The Equal Pay Act was passed 50 years ago this June and yet, five decades later women still earn, on average, 23 percent less than men earn for the same work. Moms and women of color experience even bigger wage hits. Here's what's happening: In 2013 even after controlling for education, work experience, and occupation, the U.S. Census found that women who worked full-time, year-round on average still made 23 cents less for every dollar earned by their male counterparts. And, the wage gap for women of color was even more staggering than for women overall: When Black and Hispanic women work full-time, year-round, they only make 64 and 55 cents, respectively, for every dollar their white, non-Hispanic male counterparts earn. Since over 80% of women in our nation have children by the time they're 44 years old, this means the majority of women in our nation are touched by this type of wage discrimination at some point in their lives.  Tell Cong...

Late last week, the House of Representatives blocked a vote on the Paycheck Fairness Act. This was a blow to everyone who has worked so hard on policies to help close the wage gap. But it's not over yet! That's right - there is a way to force a vote on the Paycheck Fairness Act. Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro put forward what's called a "discharge petition" and all we need to do is get 218 Representatives to sign it in order to release the bill for a vote. Please contact and urge your Representative to stand up for fair pay by signing the "discharge petition" on the Paycheck Fairness Act.  Woman who works full time, year round, made 77 cents for every dollar earned by her male counterparts. That 23-cent wage gap translates into more than $400,000 in lost wages over a woman's lifetime. Your voice can help make the change!

From our friends at the National Partnership for Women and Families Last week, National Partnership Senior Advisor Judith Lichtman testified on Capitol Hill as the only voice of opposition to the so-called "comp time" bill. Despite its name, the Working Families Flexibility Act (H.R. 1406) is an empty promise — a smoke-and-mirrors bill — that offers neither the flexibility nor the support that working families need. That's why we must urge Congress to look beyond the misleading name and assess this partisan legislation for what it really is: a bad idea. The “comp time” bill claims to give hourly workers more time with their families by allowing them, through an agreement with their employers, to choose paid time off as compensation for working more than 40 hours in a week. In reality, it would give workers less time, less money and less flexibility. It would erode overtime protections guaranteed by the Fair Labor Standards Act. It would mean a pay cut for wor...