Paycheck Fairness Act

[agzg]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

What are the supposed pros AND cons of the Paycheck Fairness Act? What say you, GCers?

I'm sure azgz would like to cuss someone out right about now.

azgz might never come but it is ok if agzg weighs in?

Originally Posted by Mevara

The pros are obvious... I would actually make as much as my coworkers.

I can see how the cons might actually be greater than the pros. Yes I do just as good of a job as the guy sitting next to me so I should be paid comparable to him. Although there are women in our office who are bad at their job, why they still work here is another topic. I believe they should NOT be paid equally to the guys they work with because they are not as good. So it is a fine line to say that all women should be paid equally to the men they work with.

If their job codes and duties are the same, with the same or similar duties, and the same or similar education/time with the company, then yes, they should be paid the same. Although the ones that suck should be weeded out. That has nothing to do with gender. But if they are doing the same things, yes, they should be paid the same (merit raises not included, although merit raises may add another layer because how do they demonstrate that merit raises aren't determined taking gender into account).

It's frustrating, to me, that basically this same bill keeps getting voted down. I believe a same or similar bill was voted down last year, maybe the year before. However, I'm clear on the fact that regardless of the legislation women will still be (statistically) paid less than men due to societal perspective of the value of women in the workforce.

I hear "women are more of a risk because pregnancy!" arguments all the time, mostly from boneheaded idiots who should be taken out back and shot because they're a drain on me and society in general. These perceptions will change over time and I do think eventually just through social change women will start to be paid on par with men (as a whole), but it's going to take a very long time and I'm sad to say I'll probably be dead.

But, I will say that often these laws do not take into account other intersecting demographic information, so there's that. Where race and gender mix (or sexuality and gender, or able v. disabled and gender) mix are additional complications to what seems "cut and dry" when you ignore them.

They also don't take into account that folks find discussing their pay tacky in general, something companies would continue to take advantage of even in the event one of these passed.

But, one of them won't pass, because it's an attempt to give teeth to what is now largely seen as a "good will" act to keep the women from rioting.