Everyone has a voice, don't let yours go unheard.
If you think that you have to wait for the government or your company to end the gender wage gap, you're wrong. Those organizations are only going to act when they get enough input from us, letting them know that we're not going to take it anymore. To help end the Gender Pay Gap, here are some things you can do right now to make a difference:
1. Contact Your Elected Officials
This is an easy one that everyone can participate in. Elected officials are going to work on items that get the most requests. If no one is speaking up about pay inequality, then no one is working on it. So every voice counts! Use this government link, How to Contact Your Elected Officials, to find out who your representatives are and how to contact them. Call, email, write them - whatever your preferred method is, just do it!
Tell them you support the Fair Pay Act of 2017, and you want them to support it and help get it signed into law too. The Fair Pay Act expands the Equal Pay Act of 1963 by including race and national origin, as well as gender. This is important considering the Gender Wage Gap is even wider for minority groups.
2. Submit Suggestions to Your Company to Complete a Gender Pay Audit
You know those surveys your company sends out? You know when they call for questions for the company meetings? That's your opportunity. This one takes a bit more bravery, but you can do it, and do it anonymously if you like. If the survey is anonymous and conducted by an outside company - submit your question. Another way to submit a question anonymously - type the question/suggestion without a name on it and submit it under HR's door before or after hours.
Tell them you want your company to complete a gender and diversity pay audit, AND that you want them to fix any disparities. If no one is pushing for this, if no one is speaking up, then the company leaders think everything is fine - no need to take any action to make sure pay is fair. However if people are talking about and pushing for a pay audit to make sure pay is fair among all employees, then the leaders will start to worry that talent will leave their company for companies that do offer fair pay.
3. Support Companies that Are Working to End the Gender Wage Gap
Women control well over half of consumer spending in the US. Some estimates say that women control two-thirds of all consumer spending, some say $5-$15 trillion dollars annually, some estimate $7 trillion dollars annually. No matter what way you slice it, women in the US make more purchasing decisions (in dollar terms) than men. That's a lot of POWER.
Make sure you use that power to support companies that are committed to paying women equally.
Techonology:
Adobe, Alphabet/Google, Apple, Cisco, GoDaddy, Intel, Microsoft, Pinterest, Salesforce, Spotify, Texas Instruments, Yahoo
Finance:
Bank of America, Bank of New York Mellon, J.P. Morgan Chase, Mastercard, Wells Fargo
Retail:
Adidas, Airbnb, Amazon, American Airlines, Ebay, Estée Lauder, Expedia, Gap, Hershey, Honest Company, Jet.com, Johnson & Johnson, L'Oréal, Nestlé, Nike, PepsiCo, Staples, Starbucks
Services:
AT&T, Care.com, Glassdoor, Zillow
4. Shun Companies that Aren't
Your dollar actually has quite a bit of power, and if women band together to collectively boycott companies that refuse to complete a gender pay audit and fix the disparities found, then those companies will get a strong message. Pay women equally or lose business.
Techonology:
Facebook, Hewlett Packard, Oracle
Finance:
Discover, Goldman Sachs, Key Corp
Retail:
Colgate, McDonald's, Marriot, TJX Companies, Walmart
Insurance:
Metlife, Progressive Insurance
5. Support Investment Funds that are Pushing for Equal Pay
Arjuna Capital is the leading activist investment fund taking up the charge for Equal Pay. They have filed numerous gender pay equity shareholder proposals with the top firms in Technology, Retail, and Finance. They are starting to take on the Insurance industry next. Contact them and let them know you want to be a part of the push for equal pay. The more investors they band together, the louder their voice will be, and the more clout they will have. This will enable them to bring about even more change.
6. Invest in Companies that Are Committed to Pay Equality
Not only can you use your dollars to purchase goods and services from companies that support equal pay, you can also choose to invest your savings in these companies as well. By purchasing stock in companies that support gender equality in pay (and in promotion), you are also picking companies that are more likely to have better returns and shareholder value.
Conversely dumping stocks that don't support pay equity will also send a message to those companies. If you don't support women, women won't support you. The less demand for those stocks, the more value they will lose, pinching the pockets of company owners and shareholders. Also when you purchase stocks that support women, you are helping their share prices and market valuations. If people don't listen when you speak, speak with your money. Then they will listen...
7. Sue Your Company
Finally, if you believe you have been subjected to unequal pay due to your gender, you are protected by law under The Equal Pay Act of 1963. Consult with a labor and employment attorney on whether your case is a case they believe they can fight and win in court. Once a gender pay disparity is discovered and proven, it is then company's responsibility to prove that it is fair and just. If more people start to come forward about pay disparity in court, then corporations and the government will start to get the picture that women and minorities just won't stand for pay inequality.
Sources: 2016 Equal Pay Pledge archives.gov, Arjuna Capital 2018 Gender Pay Scorecard arjunacapital.com
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