Equal Pay Day Was Yesterday
Posted by Michelle Moquin on April 9th, 2014
Good morning!
Form Think Progress:
No Mad Men Pay
It’s Long Past Time To Close The Gender Wage Gap
Today is Equal Pay Day, the day that marks how much longer the average woman has to work into 2014 to make the same amount as a man made in 2013. Because women make 77 cents for every dollar a man makes, that amounts to almost 60 extra workdays and 100 extra days in total.
Women are the sole or co-breadwinners in the great majority of families, yet women working at all income levels tend to be paid less. It should not be more difficult for women and their families to get ahead. It’s illegal to pay women less, but gender discrimination in pay exists. It’s time to make equal pay for equal work a reality.
President Obama marking the day by signing two new executive orders that remove barriers to ensure equal pay for equal work. This issue has been a priority for Obama ever since the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act was the first bill he signed into law. But pay secrecy stands in the way to enforcing equal pay laws since a woman who doesn’t know she is underpaid can’t take action to close the gap. That’s where the new executive orders come in:
1. Prohibit Federal Contractors From Retaliating Against Employees Who Discuss Compensation. Employees who chose to discuss their pay should not be put at risk of losing their job, being demoted, or denied a job opportunity. Too often, rules prohibiting discussions about pay are used to protect discriminatory practices from coming to light and create a culture of secrecy that has no place in the 21st century American workplace.
2. Require Federal Contractors To Report Data on Pay by Sex and Race. For years, federal enforcement agencies have been limited in their ability to combat pay discrimination because they do not have regular information about how much all federal contractors pay their employees. Having accurate information about an employer’s pay practices is essential in enforcing the law effectively and vigorously.
These executive actions send a clear signal that the administration wants to end pay discrimination. More than two-thirds of voters agree. But it is up to Congress to pass a law to ensure that these rules apply to all businesses, not just those who receive taxpayer dollars. The Paycheck Fairness Act, which the Senate is voting on this week, would do just that. Unfortunately, only 54 Senators are signed onto the bill and numerous members of the GOP seem to think that equal pay just isn’t that important or even that pay discrimination doesn’t exist at all. Mitch McConnell (the Senate’s top Republican!) called it a “bizarre obsession.”
That is just not true. Women earn less when they get the same education, they earn less when they balance children and careers, and they earn less because ofdiscrimination. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, women earn less invirtually every job category. So enough about that.
But equal pay is not only an important equity issue, it is also vital economic concern. If women earned equal pay for equal work, our economy would boost GDP by 2.9 percent or almost $450 billion and cut the poverty rate in half for working women.
BOTTOM LINE: Times have changed since the Mad Men era, but our workplaces have failed to keep up. President Obama has taken an important step today in ending pay secrecy for federal contractors, but it is time for Congress to act to bring workplace policies for all into the 21st century. That means passing the Paycheck Fairness Act, and doing everything it can to make sure that women and their families have a fair shot to succeed.
*W*O*M*E*N*P*O*W*E*R*
Readers: Yay! President Obama! Thank you for supporting women, again. Will Congress back him?
As usual, it is no surprise that the repubs are not in support of this. As usual, the repubs show they don’t care about women. As usual, the repubs don’t seem to think there is a reason to be concerned or that pay discrimination even exists.
Once again, even though the numbers show that equal pay would boost our economy and fifty percent of women would rise out of poverty…nope, the repubs don’t care. As usual, they would rather the country go to shit in the proverbial hand-basket, than have Obama succeed or women rise and be treated and seen as equals.
Yes, the repubs would love to be living in Mad Men times forever. Helloo ladies…if you’re not already, it’s time to be Mad Women.
Peace out. Blog me.
Lastly, greed over a great story is surfacing from my “loyal”(?) readers. With all this back and forth about who owns what, that appears on my blog, let me reiterate that all material posted on my blog becomes the sole property of my blog. If you want to reserve any proprietary rights don’t post it to my blog. I will prominently display this caveat on my blog from now on to remind those who may have forgotten this notice.
Gratefully your blog host,
michelle
Aka BABE: We all know what this means by now :)
If you love my blog and my writes, please make a donation via PayPal, credit card, or e-check, please click the “Donate” button below. (Please only donations from those readers within the United States. – International readers please see my “Donate” page)
Or if you would like to send a check via snail mail, please make checks payable to “Michelle Moquin”, and send to:
Michelle Moquin PO Box 29235 San Francisco, Ca. 94129
Thank you for your loyal support!
All content on this site are property of Michelle Moquin © copyright 2008-2012
“Though she be but little, she be fierce.” – William Shakespeare Midsummer Night’s Dream
" Politics, god, Life, News, Music, Family, Personal, Travel, Random, Photography, Religion, Aliens, Art, Entertainment, Food, Books, Thoughts, Media, Culture, Love, Sex, Poetry, Prose, Friends, Technology, Humor, Health, Writing, Events, Movies, Sports, Video, Christianity, Atheist, Blogging, History, Work, Education, Business, Fashion, Barack Obama, People, Internet, Relationships, Faith, Photos, Videos, Hillary Clinton, School, Reviews, God, TV, Philosophy, Fun, Science, Environment, Design, The Page, Rants, Pictures, Church, Blog, Nature, Marketing, Television, Democrats, Parenting, Miscellaneous, Current Events, Film, Spirituality, Obama, Musings, Home, Human Rights, Society, Comedy, Me, Random Thoughts, Research, Government, Election 2008, Baseball, Opinion, Recipes, Children, Iraq, Funny, Women, Economics, America, Misc, Commentary, John McCain, Reflections, All, Celebrities, Inspiration, Lifestyle, Theology, Linux, Kids, Games, World, India, Literature, China, Ramblings, Fitness, Money, Review, War, Articles, Economy, Journal, Quotes, NBA, Crime, Anime, Islam, 2008, Stories, Prayer, Diary, Jesus, Buddha, Muslim, Israel, Europe, Links, Marriage, Fiction, American Idol, Software, Leadership, Pop culture, Rants, Video Games, Republicans, Updates, Political, Football, Healing, Blogs, Shopping, USA, Class, Matrix, Course, Work, Web 2.0, My Life, Psychology, Gay, Happiness, Advertising, Field Hockey, Hip-hop, sex, fucking, ass, Soccer, sox"
April 9th, 2014 at 12:31 pm
Tell your senators:
“In the United States, women, on average, earn 23% less than men. That’s unacceptable, and puts women and their families at serious disadvantage. The Paycheck Fairness Act is an opportunity to fix that gap. Vote yes on the bill, and show your support for equal pay.”
The average American woman would have had to work from January 1, 2013, until April 8, 2014, to earn what the average American man earned in 2013.1 This gap exists despite the passage of the Equal Pay Act 50 years ago — and the gap’s even worse for mothers and women of color.
The Paycheck Fairness Act will help close that gap. And there’s a key vote coming up this week in the Senate.
It’s ridiculous that we have to debate the merits of equal pay for men and women in 2014, but when women make 77 cents for every dollar men do, there’s work to be done. Women are often still punished if they inquire about wage differences. But without real salary information, it’s impossible to know that there’s even a disparity.
The Paycheck Fairness Act helps make sure that women can get the information they need without fear of retaliation. Combined with the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009, which allows much greater access to the courts for victims of wage discrimination, this bill will help close the pay gap.
While it’s hard to imagine that anyone wouldn’t want men and women to receive equal pay, there’s been serious Republican resistance to the bill. It was defeated in 2012 and Republicans seem committed to making sure it doesn’t pass now.
Tell your senators it’s time for equal pay. Vote yes on the Paycheck Fairness Act. Click the link below to automatically sign:
http://act.credoaction.com/go/3963?t=5&akid=10360.4306755.eW4aRD
Thanks for standing up for women’s work.
Heidi Hess, Campaign Manager
CREDO Action from Working Assets
April 9th, 2014 at 1:00 pm
Sorry Michelle fair pay for women won’t happen as long as white women follow lock-step behind white men.
—————-
The Senate Republican minority today blocked passage of the Paycheck Fairness for Women Act, a common-sense effort to address the pay gap between women and men. The filibuster follows an attempt last week by House Democrats to get a vote on the bill, which the Republican House majority refused to allow.
The Paycheck Fairness Act prohibits employers from retaliating against employees who discuss their salaries, closes loopholes in the Equal Pay Act, rewards employers who have fair and equitable pay practices, and helps small businesses adopt equal pay policies. [...]
“The idea that a woman would be paid less than a man for the same work is grossly unfair,” said CPC Co-Chair Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN). “Why would anyone subvert the democratic process to pay women less than men?
Women lose significant income during their lifetimes due to pay inequity. This unfairness extends to the children, elderly parents and families who rely on women for support. This unequal treatment has to end.”
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, women who work full time still earn, on average, only 77 cents for every dollar men earn. The statistics are even worse for women of color. In 2010, African American women only earned approximately 62 cents and Latinas only 54 cents for each dollar earned by a white man. The Institute of Women’s Policy Research found that this wage disparity will cost women anywhere from $400,000 to $2 million over a lifetime in lost wages.
===================
My race is full of silly women who are just too stupid to help themselves.
April 9th, 2014 at 1:00 pm
Gee whiz, nobody (liberals and conservatives) saw that coming.
Imagine that, the minority republicans successfully blocking pro-people legislation.
Well Democrats, just throw up your hands and keep those wages supressed, and keep supporting your corporate owned party.
GOP = Gestapo Over People (Party)
Democrats = The Doormat Party
Learn the real terminology.
April 9th, 2014 at 1:01 pm
As a female, it makes my head spin like the Exorcist that any woman would vote for any of these heaps of walking shite. R or D = POISON
April 9th, 2014 at 1:02 pm
ignore foreign and domestic violence and vote for the more ” evolved” politition,OilyBomber.
http://facebook.com/uscloseup….
http://www.uscloseup.com
April 9th, 2014 at 1:02 pm
The problem folks is that the government should never be able to tell any private business what to do. If people do not want to work for low pay they can always picket and choose not to work for that company.
Government should also not protect corporations from evading the jury justice of the people. We need a great reset button. If someone does something wrong, let the people decide based on facts.
Do not stop people from starting their own business because of lack of government permission. No permission is required to pursue life, liberty and happiness just respect the same in others or pay the consequences.
April 9th, 2014 at 1:05 pm
Republicans keep saying there is no war against women, this just proves they will stop any bill that will help the working class, including women! Women, remember this in November, Willard will not respond with his opinion on women’s wage rights.
April 9th, 2014 at 1:08 pm
The Playbill seems to read: OilyBomber opposes sexual discrimination, as opposed to those pesky Repugs who suppress sexual equality. So, ignore foreign and domestic violence and vote for the more ” evolved” politition,OilyBomber.
It’s always divide and conquer. Is it true that the gender/ income stats are manipulated by not accounting for average men’s longer working day?
April 9th, 2014 at 1:10 pm
Common Dreams staff’s usage of the rhetorical label “Grand Old Party” tells us that many who CLAIM the left are actually very sentimental, still, to the imperial, royal, gold-encrusted altar of mammonary worhsip.
Gawd save the queen of privileged splendor, Common Dreams!!!!! Push those slaves into their yokes! What they only deserve!
April 9th, 2014 at 1:10 pm
I support this act 100%, but if us progressives don’t stop fudging the numbers we are going to be out in the cold. The gap is around 9 to 5% once education, lifestyle choices, hours etc are taken into account. Still significant, but not 23%.
April 9th, 2014 at 1:11 pm
Another example of Beltway Democrats playing politics according to Marquis de Queensbury rules while the GOP does it back alley, street fight style where the only thing that matters is who wins.
Thus this constant question is begged, “At what point are the Democrats going to realize their opposition plays dirty, or is their role to be the ‘polite’ opposition / good cop to the GOP’s bad cop for the corporate elite?”
April 9th, 2014 at 1:12 pm
Only a complete moron would vote for this bill. Yeah every single company discriminates against women. What a bunch of shit its a total myth the so called wage gape is from massive discrimination.
I love liberal idiot’s that are to stupid to take care of them selves, thanks for stealing my money.
April 9th, 2014 at 1:12 pm
Equality of Opportunity and Equality of OUTCOME are two different things you commies!
April 9th, 2014 at 1:13 pm
Yep, and imagine that when the dems are the minority, they can’t do the same thing. They sit helpless while the thugs pass horrible bills.
Doormat or complicit?
April 9th, 2014 at 1:14 pm
Democrats = Communists
Republicans = 99% Communists
April 9th, 2014 at 1:15 pm
Bailey, I agree.
The Democrats complicity depends on them being doormats. That is their mode of operation.
April 9th, 2014 at 1:17 pm
Raven, because if you don’t, you still get the Dem or Republican making the decisions that affect you. That’s reality, I don’t like it either.
But, voting for someone who doesn’t even get 5% of the vote, helps me even less than choosing between the Dem and the Repub – who one of which actually will be in office.
April 9th, 2014 at 1:18 pm
Unfortunately the reality is that we do live with a two party system so it’s going to be one or the other that’s in power at any given time.
Even if you don’t vote in protest it will only result in helping one party gain temporary control, it’s a no win situation for the American people but depending on which party succeeds it could be good news for the industry giants, by voting one at least has a choice of which “Poison” they wish to pick.
April 9th, 2014 at 1:24 pm
Noman#11, Your protecting our corporate master from “paying the consequences” with your empty and trite regurgitation of platitudes.
Sorry, you may bow down to the first tier citizens called corporations, and accept your lower cast status, but many of us don’t agree with the suppression of wages through discrimination.
Kind of like Ron Paul’s claim that civil rights impede on business’ privilege to discriminate. Perhaps you are unaware of the consequences of such a public policy, or it just may be the world you want to live in, but not me.
Wait, we do live in that world. Look what you Republicans and Democrats have wrought. But sadly, you won’t look squarely in the face of the disasters you SUPPORT.
Eventually you are going to have to make a choice that either exposes you as the faithful dogs of the Ruling Class you are, or the real citizens you could be.
April 9th, 2014 at 1:24 pm
Noman#11, If any entity under US jurisdiction is engaging in unjust discrimination, that is the government’s business.
April 9th, 2014 at 1:26 pm
Ingrid#7, Even NPR reports Demo’s introduced this bill knowing it had no chance to succeed, now when it comes to murder and war Demo’s never lose
April 9th, 2014 at 1:27 pm
Cooper#8, What are you talking about? Most women who work outside the home then come home to their other full-time job, managing the household and children, cooking, cleaning, laundry, etc.
It’s true that many men in couple relationships these days “help” but most still seem to consider these tasks beneath them, or “women’s work.”
And all the single, working Moms who do it all……what’s their average work day?
Your was a truly ignorant remark’ your misogyny is showing just a bit.
Equal pay for equal work is simply common sense.
April 9th, 2014 at 1:30 pm
No wonder nothing gets done in this country. Look at the GOP, they look at women as a lesser spicie. The GOP will always care more about the wealth of corporations and the rich before the average American.
April 9th, 2014 at 1:32 pm
Anon#22(Pick a name for god’s sake), Yes you are correct in misunderstanding my post. Of course equal work deserves equal pay. And my reply below acknowledges the unpaid household work women primarily do.
My question is, is the report that I heard/read (do not ask where) that the study which claimed pay differential between sexes was invalid because it did not account for time differentials.
Simply put, when a male clerk earned $10,000 per annum for a consistent 45 hour week and a female clerk earn $8,000 for a consistent 40 hour week, was this time discrepency compensated for in the stats of the study.
Just think, if the study is invalid and there is no pay discrimination we can move on to valid problems. One must examine the facts and allegations to arrive at just solutions.
April 9th, 2014 at 1:57 pm
Okay Cooper#24, I have a name. My question to you is are you are repeating some red herring you read somewhere (where?) or you just made this up. I
f the woman was working 40 hours a week versus 45 hours a week for the man, then this in itself is discrimination – - I was subject to a situation years ago just like this.
The company said women could only work 40 hours per week and that was considered “part-time,” but the men worked 44 hours and got higher pay and more benefits.
You are full of shit. You’re just looking for an excuse not to pay women equal wages, and you’re all wet.
April 9th, 2014 at 1:58 pm
Cooper#24, Every study I’ve seen has been on wages comparisons between men and women in the same job – per hour – not an accumulative of hours worked (a stupid way for the government to figure this out and it’s highly unlikely that they’d do it that way.)
I don’t know what hate site you got that idea that men work more hours from and so it only looks like they make more money, but it’s clearly wrong and propaganda to support gender discrimination. That you couldn’t even find evidence of men working more hours should have tipped you off.
April 9th, 2014 at 1:59 pm
Cooper#24 Post a link proving that average man works longer days or stick your bullshit where the sun don’t shine.
April 9th, 2014 at 2:00 pm
Questions are not assertions. Of course in the income discussion homework is not considered.
April 9th, 2014 at 2:46 pm
Cooper#29, in other words you’re attempting to spread lies not facts and you’re trying not to be accountable for them.
April 9th, 2014 at 2:47 pm
Common Dreams staff’s usage of the rhetorical label “Grand Old Party” tells us that many who CLAIM the left are actually very sentimental, still, to the imperial, royal, gold-encrusted altar of mammonary worhsip. Gawd save the queen of privileged splendor, Common Dreams!!!!! Push those slaves into their yokes! What they only deserve!
April 9th, 2014 at 3:17 pm
Reba #23, I agree with you. Average american = all women, children and people of color.
April 9th, 2014 at 4:31 pm
The dinosaur party is at it again:
Senate Republicans blocked the equal pay bill today. The Senate voted 53-44 on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to the measure. Sen. Angus King, an independent from Maine who typically votes with Democrats, joined Republicans in blocking the measure. http://politics.nytimes.com/congress/votes/113/senate/2/103
There’s no hope for American women as long as other American women keep the status quo <-by supporting the men that have these values!!
It's kinda gross/sick when you think about it – like Stockholm syndrome.
These misogynist congressmen are like a cancer in our government process. Let's vote them out.
/SB
April 10th, 2014 at 7:59 am
Social Butterfly#32, with whose vote will that happen? Most of my white sisters are dumb as the proverbial “box of rocks.”
They continue to vote in white men and then beg them to treat them fairly. I still don’t believe they will support Hilary Clinton.
Not that it will matter if they also elect another bunch of white men to the House and Senate.