A new Public Policy Polling poll revealed that 92% of Missourians believe that women should be compensated equally to men for doing the same job. Economic Policy Institute’s recent findings on “Women’s work” and the gender pay gap reaffirmed some of the same findings of our Status of Women in Missouri and Kansas research reports as well:
- Gender pay gaps within occupations persist
- Women tend to take on the majority of family caretaking duties, making it difficult for them to work and succeed in occupations that require long hours and higher pay
In order to close the gender wage gap, Women’s Foundation commissioned the University of Missouri Institute of Public Policy (IPP) to research and develop the Pay Equity Best Practice Guidelines. These guidelines allow private and public sector employers to work toward pay equity and achieve measurable results with three best practices for Missouri employers:
- Determine if Gender-Based Pay Disparities Exist
- Reevaluate the Current Pay System from an Equity Perspective
- Promote and Ensure Pay Transparency
In the past year, numerous studies have reported that when companies adopt equal pay policies, it positively impacts employee’s performance and satisfaction and results in a lower turnover rate.
These guidelines present a real opportunity to achieve the pay equity that nine out of ten Missourians support, and we believe the Pay Equity Best Practice Guidelines are a tool that can be used by private and public sector employers in Missouri and beyond.
Women’s Foundation won’t stop fighting until all women receive equal pay for equal work. Will you join us by encouraging businesses in your community to adopt the Pay Equity Best Practice Guidelines? It’s critical we all take this into our own hands and work for change.