Sessions

From Hollywood to the White House, the issue of wage gaps is a hot topic. The idea of “equal pay for equal work” has been the law for decades but disparities persist, and a renewed focus on pay equity is creating new laws and regulations in states around the country. Legislative efforts in California, New York, Massachusetts, and others are introducing the idea of pay equity—equal pay for different but “comparable” jobs—that will require you to look at your basis for establishing pay scales for entire categories of employees. When employers are sued over pay issues, they are often shocked at what they learn about their existing practices. Issues of unconscious bias—prejudicial mental shortcuts unwittingly made based on outdated social norms and stereotypes—often inform the basis of these practices. This session will address practical steps you can take come into compliance with new pay equity laws while there is still time.