I am a mother, writing in honor of all women for Mother's Day last week, and speaking out in support of the Paycheck Fairness Act. In 2011, the Census Bureau reported that women working full time earned on average 23 percent less than their male counterparts. In other words, for every dollar earned by a man, a woman working just as hard earns only 77 cents. At a time when more than 70 percent of mothers are in the workforce, this injustice is far-reaching as is the impact on families. More than 40 percent of women are the primary breadwinners in their households, but given the wage gap, women take home $11,000 less than their male counterparts. Working mothers whose families depend on their income deserve equal pay.
Not only is equal pay good for moms and women, forward-thinking employers realize that eliminating pay differentials is good business sense by increasing productivity and competitiveness, and reducing turnover. The Paycheck Fairness Act would prohibit employers from barring workers from discussing wages. It also increases oversight, provides training for salary negotiation, and emphasizes transparency, remedies working moms and all women can support.
Drora Oren
Salt Lake City