International Equal Pay Day began in 2019 in solidarity with the wage gap between men and women due to gender inequality. It is a day of awareness to recognize that this is still ongoing across industries and work sectors.
It is important to note that for members of the LGBTQIA2S+ community, Indigenous women, and black women, the gender gap is an even more significant barrier.
Statistics on Pay Discrimination:
According to the OECD (2022), there is a 16.1% difference between women's and men’s annual median earnings compared to the annual median earnings of men for full-time employees,
According to the preliminary findings published in the Social Science Research Network in April 2022, college-educated workers in the US who self-identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community earn 22% less than their heterosexual cisgender co-workers. Source here.
According to the National Partnership: Quantifying America’s Gender Wage Gap, Black women are typically paid just 58 cents for every dollar to white, non-Hispanic men.
How to Recognize International Equal Pay Day at Work
Pay transparency: This begins with creating inclusive job postings in your organization. Check out our article on 7 Tips for Making Your Job Posting More Inclusive.
Educate and Encourage: Creating Inclusive Workplaces Training and Discrimination Training are available for your workplace.
Update Policies: You can use our free DEI policy template to get started.
Communications Template for International Equal Pay Day
[Subject: International Equal Pay Day]
Hi everyone,
Today is International Equal Pay Day. At [Company Name], we're proud to foster an inclusive and equitable environment where everyone's contributions are valued and rewarded fairly.
I encourage you to engage in open conversations, share your thoughts, and contribute your ideas on how we can continue to enhance our pay equity practices. Together, we can make meaningful strides towards building a more inclusive and equitable future.
On this occasion, I want to express my gratitude to each and every one of you for your invaluable contributions to our collective success. Your diverse talents and hard work are the foundation of our organization.
Thank you for growing with us here at [Company Name].
[Signature]