Were you aware Equal Pay Day was a couple weeks ago?

Equal Pay Day, which was created by the National Committee on Pay Equity (NCPE), is designed to bring awareness to pay discrepancies between women and men for the same work. It’s never the same day, however. Instead, the date “symbolizes how far into the year women must work to earn what men earned.” The March 15 date of this year was set based on the U.S. Census Bureau numbers that indicate that women earn 83 cents for every dollar earned by men. This date varies for women of color, with Equal Pay Day for Black women set at August 3, 2022.

In other words, U.S. women must work an extra two-and-a-half months to catch up with men’s earnings; they lose more than $10,000 every year to pay discrimination. Another way to look at the discrepancy: If you’re looking at a nine-to-five workday, the average woman starts working for free at 2:40 p.m.!

So, what are some things you and/or your company can do to try to ameliorate the pay gap issue? Well, for starters, the NCPE recommends that businesses examine their pay practices to make sure all employees are treated fairly. It also recommends a 10-step self-audit guide for businesses that includes steps such as evaluating pay for industry competitiveness; comparing job grades or scores; assessing opportunities for granting workers bonuses and commissions; and evaluating how raises are awarded.

You can also share your thoughts, frustrations and solutions regarding the pay equity issue via Women Leading Travel & Hospitality’s peer group calls! A member favorite, these calls are designed to give Women Leading Travel & Hospitality members the chance to connect with each other via private video calls. Topics cover everything from business strategy to professional development, and everything in between. Peer calls consist of 15 to 25 members and meet the third Thursday of every other month at 12:00 p.m. EST.

But you have to be in it to win it! Only members have access to these fabulous networking and solution opportunities. Interested in joining us? Check out the benefits of membership here. Of course, if you have any specific questions, you can always reach out to me (mcampanelli@napco.com) or anyone else on our team.

I look forward to having you join us in the very near future!