International Women's Month & Employee Appreciation
By Nina Baranyk
As we enter the month of March, I write to celebrate Employee Appreciation Day, which takes place on March 5th, and International Women’s Day, which takes place on March 8th. Employers and Indiana legislators should honor Hoosier workers, the majority of whom are women, by supporting legislation that protects working women across the state.
In 2018, women in the Indiana workforce earned just under 80 cents to every man’s dollar (US Bureau of Labor Statistics). Indiana ranks 49 out of 50 states, including DC, for the gender pay gap (WFYI). In the Midwest, 69.3% of mothers are breadwinners or co-breadwinners in their households (Center for American Progress). Although advocacy for women and pregnant employees has come a long way, women are still unfairly treated in the hiring process and in the workforce. Many employees, regardless of gender, experience difficulties in obtaining wage information and in requesting higher pay.
As a second-semester senior at Butler University, I am often asked about what I plan to do after graduation. While I am excited to begin my career, I am also hopeful that I will enter a workforce that cares about me and my rights as a young working woman. Currently, I am a Legislative Intern for Women4Change Indiana, a nonpartisan organization that advocates for Hoosier women. Because I am both invested in my future as well as the future of my peers, both Women4Change and I are closely following Indiana legislation that benefits Hoosier women in the workforce.
House Bill 1011, for example, advocates for equal pay and wage disclosure protection, prohibiting wage discrepancies based on gender as well as protecting employees who ask for wage disclosure from discipline. House Bill 1192 prevents employees from denying applicants to a position requests for wage range information. HB 1245 prevents employers from discriminating against pregnant applicants. House Bill 1358 and SB 246 require employers to provide accommodations for pregnant employees. Senate Bill 313 establishes a paid family leave program, while Senate Bill 314 prohibits employers from using employee wage history in the hiring process. If these bills become law, they will benefit women in the workforce, as well as businesses themselves.
To those in the workforce who are expected to work just as hard, if not harder, to receive lesser pay because of your sex and/or race: you deserve recognition every single day of the year. Many of you are expected to be mothers and primary caregivers, all the while being discriminated against for doing so. To those workers who day in and day out face the world as women, I write this in the hopes that employers value you today and every day. I hope that your employers support and advocate for legislation that supports you.