Equal Pay Today 2023-2024 Policy Agenda

 

We are thrilled to announce a significant milestone for the Equal Pay Today Campaign as we commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Equal Pay Act of 1963. In conjunction with our 10th anniversary, Equal Pay Today, a national coalition consisting of over 40 nonprofit and advocacy organizations dedicated to achieving pay equity for women and LGBTQIA+ individuals, particularly women of color, we have released a bold inaugural policy agenda. This landmark agenda outlines a comprehensive framework to dismantle systemic barriers, foster wage justice, and create an equitable workforce for all.

“We call upon lawmakers and advocates to join forces with us and help create a future where wage justice is not a distant dream but a lived reality for every worker.”
— Noreen Farrell, co-founder of Equal Pay Today and Executive Director at Equal Rights Advocates

At Equal Pay Today, we firmly believe that every worker deserves fair compensation and equal opportunities. While progress has been made since the enactment of the Equal Pay Act 60 years ago, there is still work to be done to address the various factors contributing to gender and race-based pay gaps, which undermine the economic security of millions. With the release of our policy agenda and our collective dedication to these goals, we stand united in the fight for wage justice.


Our policy agenda encompasses a range of crucial measures:

  • Closing the gender pay gap by implementing transparent pay practices and accountability mechanisms;

  • Strengthening enforcement of existing equal pay laws and introducing new legislation to address emerging pay disparities and to address occupational segregation;

  • Advocating for stronger anti-discrimination and anti-harassment legislation that promotes economic security;

  • Addressing poverty level minimum wages, wage theft, and subminimum wages, particularly for our most vulnerable workers, and

  • Supporting paid family leave, sick days, and caregiver protections.

Join us in our mission to create a society where fair pay is the norm, discrimination is eradicated, and wage justice prevails for all. Together, we can transform the landscape of employment and build a brighter future for workers everywhere.

View our press release, featuring quotes from Equal Pay Today Roundtable leaders here.

Policy Agenda Updates

Equal Pay Today is pleased to submit comments in support of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) proposed rule prohibiting government contractors and subcontractors from seeking or considering the compensation history of job applicants and requiring such contractors to include compensation information in job postings. As advocates for fair pay, we strongly support the proposed rule and commend the federal government for recognizing the role of pay equity in improving the economy and efficiency of the procurement process.

Equal Pay Today is pleased to submit comments in support of OPM's proposal to ban salary history in federal hiring. This is a top Equal Pay Today priority and would be a monumental step toward closing the gender wage gap.

VICTORY! On January 29, 2024 the Biden Administration announced its final rule banning salary history for the federal workforce. Read more about our victory here.