| Pay inequity affects women of all colors and backgrounds. Wage disparities not only cause lower incomes for women, they also result in higher rates of poverty and poorer standards of living during retirement. Since women earn on average 73% of men's earnings, women need to be aware of steps they can take to combat the wage gap in their own lives. As part of its Equal Pay Initiative, Women Work! has compiled these tips to help women address pay inequity. These tips can be used by you, or shared with women in your program and other working women.
- Consider a career in a nontraditional field. A nontraditional occupation is one that has been historically dominated by male employees. These jobs tend to pay higher salaries than professions dominated by women. As a woman in one of these fields, you can benefit from the higher salary.
- Research salaries in your field. When you know what other people in your occupation are earning, you can more effectively bargain for a fair salary. Negotiating a salary is one of the most important steps to being paid well. Men are often more assertive than women when negotiating their wages, and as a result, they start at a higher salary. Do not accept anything less than what you know you are worth and your salary research supports.
- Join a union. Not only do union women often have higher wages than non-union men, the wage gap between union men and women is smaller than between non-union men and women. (The Working Women's department of the AFL-CIO estimates that women who do not belong to unions have the greatest earnings loss from unequal pay. They have developed a calculator women can use to estimate how their individual earnings have been affected by unequal pay, and how belonging to a union can make a difference for women.) AFL-CIO Equal Pay page.
- Keep your eyes open for a promotion. Get additional training, take on special projects, and ask your supervisor what you could to move up to a better job.
- Ask for a raise. Keep a written record of your contributions. A list of your skills and accomplishments will help boost your confidence when you ask for a raise and will be proof of your worth to the company.
- You have a right to file a charge. If you think you are being subjected to wage discrimination, you have a right to file a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. You may want to talk with a union representative or your employer first to try to come to an agreement out of court. If you decide to file a charge, you must do so within 180 days. Call the EEOC toll-free at (800) 669-4000 for more information.
Salary Negotiation Know-How
Negotiating a better salary is one step in combating the wage gap. These tips can help make salary negotiating easier.
- Research salaries in your field before you interview for a job. Know what your skills and accomplishments are and how much they are worth to your employer. See Salary Research Resources below.
- Make three lists of salary and benefits requirements: those you must have, those that would be nice to have, and those that you dream about having. Consider if you would be willing to make any trades, such as more vacation time for a lower salary.
- When applying for a job, an employer may ask you to provide a specific number for your salary requirements. Write "negotiable", "open", or "competitive" rather than providing a specific number. Don't discuss salary until you are formally offered the job. Once you know they want you, you will have more bargaining power. If an interviewer asks you in person about your salary requirements, they are trying to establish an opening figure for negotiation. It is generally acceptable to ask for up to $5,000 more than the company advertised.
- Discuss other benefits that are part of your compensation package, such as health benefits or stock options.
- When you have reached an agreement, get it in writing. You should get a letter from the company confirming that you have the job, when you start, what your job title and duties are, and the specifics of your compensation package.
Salary Research Resources
*Net, the Occupational Information Network, is an online database containing job information including job requirements and worker competencies -- http://www.doleta.gov/programs/onet
Occupational Outlook Handbook, published by the Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics, contains information on a wide range of occupation. It is available free online at http://www.bls.gov/oco/.
A variety of reference books are often available libraries, such as the American Almanac of Jobs and Salaries by John W. Wright and Salary Survey Guidebook by the American Compensation Association, as well as trade and professional association journals and surveys.
For more information about combating pay inequity, contact Women Work! at (202) 467-6346.
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