Breaking the Silence: A Journey to Eliminate Gender Pay Inequalities
My initial vision for my business was to build a big company with a big law firm and consulting practice but that has totally changed with Covid as women were the first to get fired. We have been a lean and tidy small business making millions for women.
The biggest "Oh Shit" moment was when I realized how much more men were getting paid than women. I represented a man in the music industry for his executive employment agreement. He was offered $130K right off the bat for an entry level position. Then the woman in his department who had more experience and bigger title and proven track record was given an offer to renew her contract and I represented her - she was offered $40K less in her PROMOTION! I went back and tried to get her a higher salary and they only went up by $10K. That was 20 years ago and not much has improved, so I decided to dedicate my life to making a difference for women and helping them get equal or high pay.
I sleep very well at night but the journey has its ups and downs given I am a single mom by choice to 10 year old twins who are only getting more expensive. But the overall highlight is that we have helped women make over $70MM more dollars in the past 5 years than they would have made before.
My best advice is to listen to your own instinct and follow it - think bigger than you are comfortable and don't let the haters distract you
- Jennifer Justice , The Justice Dept
The persistent gender pay gap remains a glaring and troubling aspect of our society, reflecting deeply entrenched systemic inequalities. Despite progress in some areas, women, on average, continue to earn less than their male counterparts for comparable work. This issue is multifaceted and has significant implications for individuals, families, and society as a whole.
领英推荐
Although the example Jennifer describes happened 20 years ago, it sounds as if it happened yesterday. We have not made much progress with helping women achieve equal pay as men and this has to change.?
What can we do??
As women, we must continue fighting for equal or high pay. We can take proactive steps to advocate for ourselves by leveraging various strategies and approaches.?
And as Jennifer said, listen to your instincts and follow it. You know your worth and understanding that is pivotal during negotiations and guiding assertive communication of your value. While the issue of gender pay inequality is far from over, we can never give up the fight!
MRP Planner at Siemens Energy
10 个月Its great to see that this is being discussed as it is a subject oftentimes avoided and danced around as it can be hard to open up and maintain dialogue on the subject of pay equity. It seems it is being removed from the conversation altogether in some instances.
* Author of #Womanhooded Book. Available on Amazon * Follow me on Instagram @iamjoannalambe? Director of Reflect Clinic.
11 个月the problem is two-fold. Society tells women they are worth less and therefore they think they are worth less and so it goes on!! Am sick and tired of this situation hence writing #Womanhooded it makes no sense and is making a mockery of 51% of the population #NOTHAPPY #NOTRIGHT
Interview & Salary Negotiation Coach | Career Coach for BIPOC | Executive Coach | ?? Secured $6M+ in Client Comp | ???Host of Salary Negotiations Made Simple | ??Author | Are you Managing your Career the Right Way? ??
1 年Even the best negotiators have a tendency to undervalue when it comes to negotiating for ourselves. Knowing this, we have to aim bigger. We have to seek advice and support and prepare accordingly. I strongly believe that we can solve the equal pay challenge as we come together as a wolf-pack!
Artist and illustrator
1 年Very nice writing this is. I appreciate.
It's so true, even now with all the extra sensitivity to a myriad of genders the reality is that women still don't get offered the same opportunities and when we do, it's definitely not at the same salary as our male counterparts... I've been working in construction and consulting for over 20 years and what I've experienced could form a mini thesis... Ranging from being told, in my 20s, by the departmental head of a construction firm I "earned enough for a girl". When I wanted to further studies "project management is not our core business", so I enrolled and paid for my own studies - one of the best decisions I ever made so when I was head hunted by a large engineering consulting firm I owed nothing to my employer and was free to leave without repaying any debt. That shift upped my salary by around 50%, the departmental head phoned me just after starting my new job and offered me 10K more. Suddenly I was worth more than what I was asking for when he said to me I earned enough? Even at the consulting firm there was a massive gap ito earnings. One of my co-workers was the same age as me, similar experience, difference was I actually have qualifications relevant to our field, including a masters degree.