November 20, 2019, is Latina Equal Pay Day. It’s not a celebration, it’s a day of awareness.
By Jacqueline Twillie, Founder, ZeroGap.co
Many know that lower earnings for women equate to less money to care for their families. It’s been a half of century since President Kennedy signed the Equal Pay Act yet, there still isn’t equal pay. Latinas earn about 54 cents for every dollar earned by white, non-Hispanic men. There are many layers to factors that contribute to this gap and raising awareness on Latina Equal Pay Day is an opportunity for us all to engage in a deeper conversation about solutions.
The gender wage gap can’t be solved by individuals alone. Companies, government, community organizations also have a role in addressing the solutions. LeanIn.org has comprehensive suggested solutions on their website. As individuals, we can also take an active role in advocating for ourselves.
Make career aspirations known to your supervisors by clearly articulating if you are interested in roles that expand your skill set and pay more. Think clearly about what you want to say and present that in a concise manner.
Be aware of market rate, before heading into a conversation about compensation prepare with facts. Use a few of the online salary tools to understand how much you should be earning based on experience level, education, and very importantly your geographic area.
Ask confidently, when you present your request to your supervisor or tell a job recruiter salary expectations say it with confidence. Be prepared to speak to the value you’ll be adding to the team/organization/company and follow that up with facts of the market rate.
When it comes to equal pay, the more we know the better-informed decisions we can make as it relates to which jobs we accept and money that we decide to accept for the value we add.
Jacqueline Twillie is the Founder of ZeroGap.co, a training and development firm specializing in leadership development curriculum for women who work in male-dominated industries. Her book “Don't Leave Money on The Table: Negotiation Strategies for Women Leaders in Male-Dominated Industries”, is available for free download today, November 20, 2019, in solidarity of ending the wage gap.