Many hard-working women around the country have their fingers crossed as the senate decides whether they should pass some new legislation that would make it easier for women to sue companies if they are paid lower wages than their male counterparts. The “Paycheck Fairness Act” was introduced by the House of Representatives in January of 2009 and has since been stalled.
A recent article from Reuters discusses the legislation and what it would do for women if the senate passed in through. The “Paycheck Fairness Act” is described as an update to the earlier Equal Pay Act of 1963. If passed, the new legislation would declare gender discrimination to be just as bad as racial discrimination in the workplace. Companies who pay male employees more than women will face larger penalties. The new legislation would also make it easier for you to find out whether you are being paid less than your male coworkers.
But not everyone thinks the Paycheck Fairness Act is very fair. The legislation has been stalled in the senate because business groups and some Republican senators believe the act would be too intrusive by the government on the private sector. President Barack Obama, who is now trying to get the legislation passed through the senate, believes the Paycheck Fairness Act is essential for women workers and families. Pres. Obama says, “This is not just a question of fairness for hard-working women, paycheck discrimination hurts families who lose out on badly needed income. And with so many families depending on women’s wages, it hurts the American economy as a whole.”
What do you think of the “Paycheck Fairness Act”?
Do you think the Senate should pass this piece of legislation?
BTW, from what I've read, the Act doesn't apply to all private sector businesses. Like most business-related issues, it applies to companies over a certain size. I am very upset with the politicians and party trying to stall this important bill.
shonnalahnac::
on Aug 09, 2010
Why should it be ANYONES business how much a co-worker makes? My husband currently makes more than any other person in his position at work. He has been there significantly less time then alot of his co-workers...he just negotiated better before taking this job.He does not discuss how much he is paid with other people and I think that it is his right to keep our financial life private. How much money comes into our home is our business and not that of anyone he works with. So how exactly do they plan on keeping our private life private?
MyEmptyCanvas::
on Aug 11, 2010
I don't see why it was ever okay for men to be paid more than women in the 1st place. If 2 people are doing the same or equal work they should get the same pay. They should pass this bill and stop stalling - what good does that do to constantly stall something that'd help the women of this country. Get it together people.
ctaylor71::
on Aug 18, 2010
Ther should be no difference in pay just because you are a female. I work in a grocery store as a stocker. When I started stocking there were two of us that worked together doing dairy and frozen foods. My co worker lost his job so that left only me to do both departments alone. Well, it has been over a year now and I still am doing the job of two people. I am only earning 8.50 an hour. Not only do I do the stocking jobs, but I am also responsible for going out to the petro station to give the clerks out there breaks. The point is I should be earning what I am worth. My boss will not even give me full time status and I work Monday through Friday 8-4
Supernovae::
on Aug 27, 2010
This will shock those who are skeptics about just how bad the pay differences are:
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1847194,00.html?iid=sphere-inline-sidebar
It is about how men who become women (transgender women) make ~30% less than they did as men, and women who become men (transgender men) make about ~30% more than the did as women.
Supernovae::
on Aug 27, 2010
I read some of the stories above and all of you should learn about the labor laws. For example, ctaylor71, you may be getting misclassified and depending on your state, etc, your employer may be breaking the law. Study up on the regulations in your area.
