The central problem is that we continue to undervalue and underpay work done by women. Such gaps in income are life changing for women and their families. The heart of the bill seeks to eliminate wage discrimination based upon sex, race or national origin. This important legislation would amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to require employers to provide equal pay for work in jobs that are comparable in skill, effort, responsibility and working conditions . The Fair Pay Act would apply to each company individually and would prohibit companies from reducing other employees' wages to achieve pay equity.
Fair pay is a common sense business issue.
Women make up almost half of the work force and fair pay is essential to attract and keep good workers. Fair pay is an economic issue. If workers are paid fairly, they have more to spend, will pay higher taxes and are more able to break the welfare cycle and remain self-sufficient. Fair pay is a family issue. When women aren't paid what they're worth, families get cheated too.