VOLUME 13 | SEPTEMBER 2020

UPCOMING EVENTS

Q: What is the RAW Wage Gap? A: It is NOT equal pay for equal work.

ADJUSTED WAGE GAP focuses on employees in comparable roles.

RAW WAGE GAP encompasses all employees regardless of role.

The Adjusted Wage Gap selects from an employer’s wage data to compare the pay for people of different genders or races in the same or closely comparable roles. It helps to identify potential issues with equal pay for equal work. The data is adjusted in one or more ways to control for factors such as role, level, education, hours worked, and experience.

The Raw Wage Gap is the simple difference between the average amount paid to people of different genders, races, or other categories. The Raw Wage Gap makes no adjustments to the data. It measures each group across the entire organization regardless of role, level, education, hours worked, and experience.

WAGE EQUITY NOW will measure the Raw Wage Gap. WHY? Wage Equity Now is focused on closing the raw wage gaps because these gaps illustrate the imbalances between men, women, and people of color. The raw wage gap reflects underlying systemic problems of racial and gender discrimination and implicit bias in the hiring, development, and promotion of employees throughout an organization. It reveals the lack of women and people of color in leadership roles, the lack of pipeline for talent, the existence of segregated occupations, the lower wages of women and people of color, and the ultimate wealth disparities between each of the groups. The raw wage gap is a spotlight on inequity. It measures the lack of women and people of color in the places where agendas are set and decisions are made.

Why Wage Equity Now?

The wage gap reflects where women and people of color are in leadership, it reflects the power gap, and it reflects segregated occupations. It exists even when there is equal pay for equal work. To achieve true equity we must close the gaps. This project can create the change we are looking for and help us as a community reach true gender and racial equality.

Wage Equity Now is how the Massachusetts Women's Forum is making its collective impact on the world. MWF advocates for equity and an equitable wage reflects our values and our commitment to advancing women. We acknowledge that closing the gap is not a quick fix. This is why we are committing the next ten years to achieve our goal. A deep sustained progress is not easy but we are in this for the long term.

Wage Equity Now—it’s simple in concept, transformative in impact. Unprecedented participation of employers reporting their gender and racial wage gaps and their progress toward eliminating these gaps can make Massachusetts both a pioneer and a leader in true equality in the workplace.

UPCOMING EVENTS

WAGE EQUITY NOW BRIEFING Wednesday, September 9, 2020 1:00 - 2:00 pm R.S.V.P.

THE 2020 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION: Insight, Perspective, and Conversation with Nancy Gibbs, Diane Hessan, and Beth Myers moderated by Linda Henry Tuesday, September 22nd at 5:00 pm R.S.V.P. Join us for a conversation on the 2020 Presidential Election that will feature Nancy Gibbs, Diane Hessan, and Beth Myers and moderated by Linda Henry. These rockstar panelists will share their insights from three very different perspectives: The Media, The Voice of the Voters, and The Political Strategist. Nancy Gibbs is the Director of the Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School Diane Hessan is an entrepreneur, marketer, and author engaged in a wide-ranging longitudinal study of the American voter as a columnist for The Boston Globe. Beth Myers is a political consultant and campaign advisor with over three decades of experience in American politics. She is known as one of the Republican Party’s leading strategists. Linda Henry will be moderating. She is a producer, convener, ideator. She is the Managing Director of Boston Globe Media Partners and she is both the Co-founder and Chair of HUBweek

THIRD CHAPTER VIRTUAL LUNCHEONS Fay Donohue and Priscilla Douglas are pleased to invite you to a Virtual Third Chapter Lunch Conversation. This will be an adventure and an opportunity. We will explore dreams, possibilities, and challenges for the Third Chapter of your lives. In this small group setting, we share and learn from each other over a wide variety of topics based on the group’s interest. (Limited to ten guests) Tuesday, October 13th at Noon Given these upended times what are you thinking about now? R.S.V.P. Tuesday, December 15th at Noon R.S.V.P.

VIRTUAL ANNUAL MEETING & HOLIDAY RECEPTION Monday, Dec 7, 2020 at 6:00 pm R.S.V.P.

Thank you to our Generous Sponsors

ABOUT EVENTS NEWS IWF MEMBERS

PO Box 760962, Melrose, MA 02176 (617) 817.4001 Have a question?